Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason homes with solar panels in an area in County Kildare (details supplied) are being prevented from providing excess power to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46181/23]
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), including the arrangements for eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. As part of this, households must inform ESB Networks (ESBN) of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 form. ESBN then notify the relevant supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customer’s meter point and provide the meter readings to the supply company.
It is important to note that aside from the purposes of the CEG, householders who install microgeneration equipment such as Solar PV, are required to notify ESBN of their intention to connect such renewable generating equipment in parallel with the LV electricity network, from a safety perspective alone.
Microgeneration equipment has the potential to give an electric shock or create a dangerous hazard for you or your neighbours and it is critical that ESBN’s Network Technicians are aware of onsite generation when carrying out repairs on the local network. Prior to the installation of the Solar PV system, the registered installer should have submitted the NC6 notification form to ESB Networks.
I understand from ESBN that based on the details provided, it is likely that these homes are already exporting excess electricity to the local electricity grid and this would be outside of the terms of their connection agreement with ESB Networks.
However, to support customers who have found themselves in this situation, ESBN have enabled retrospective applications via the Form NC6 – Microgeneration Notification, available at esbnetworks.ie.
In order to complete this, homeowners would need the original installer or another registered installer/electrician to complete the form and provide details of the installed generator. This would enable them to be registered for the appropriate export connection type and therefore also be eligible via their electricity supplier for export payments where applicable.
