asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will take steps with a view to ensuring that the Electricity Supply Board will make arrangements to supply electricity to schools at the domestic rate rather than at the much heavier industrial rate; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools Electricity Supply.
12.
The fixing of charges for electricity is, under statute, a matter entirely for the Electricity Supply Board.
I am informed by the Board that the load characteristics of a school are entirely different from those of domestic premises and for this reason the same rates cannot be applied to both.
Is the Minister aware that this differential applies to institutions, many of which are schools and other such places? Is there not a rational basis on which to provide electricity at the domestic rate to, say, a residential hostel rather than to supply it at the heavy industrial rate?
It is a matter of estimating the total amount of electricity which would be used by such an institution. If night storage is used, it would not pay the school or such institution to make use of the domestic two-part tariff rate.
Do I understand that the consumer has the option to ascertain from the Board the terms on which he can have the supply and that he can have it at the domestic rate, if it is cheaper?
The domestic rate does not apply to schools and institutions but the question of whether an economy would result if the domestic rate were applied to a school is doubtful.
Suppose the domestic rate would result in an economy, is it open to the institution to have the domestic rate?
Not in present circumstances. The domestic rate does not apply to schools and such institutions.
Would the Minister say why?
I understand that there are reasons why the domestic rate does not apply to institutions. The ESB have decided to apply a particular rate to institutions which is not the domestic rate.
Perhaps the Minister would look into the matter?
If I thought there were any inequity in the matter, I would ask the ESB to look into it.