Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
98. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department should have more stringent guidelines in place for contractors to ensure that ESBN NC6 applications are submitted in a more uniform and timely manner to ensure that customers are given access to feed-in tariff payments at the earliest opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28747/23]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister; has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.
As part of this, a renewables-self consumer must have installed microgeneration and must have informed ESB Networks of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form. Full details are available at www.CRU.ie.
ESB Networks’ role is to notify the registered supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customers meter point and to provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company in order to obtain more information relating to export payments through the clean export guarantee.
Once a valid NC6 Form is processed, this triggers a ‘market message’ to the registered supplier for that MPRN, informing the supplier that there is export capability at that site
ESB Networks have automated the processing of NC6 applications by implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in October 2021 and this has reduced the manual effort involved in processing NC6 forms. There are dedicated resources in place to manage the NC6 process including managerial and technical support to resolve any queries. I understand that there is currently no backlog in registering NC6 customer applications.
Submission of NC6 to ESBN is a private matter between the customer and their chosen installer.
