asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his attention has been drawn to reports strongly criticising the ESB for its policy in relation to the installation of electric current in new housing estates; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Estate Electricity Supplies.
8.
Mr. O'Donnell
I have seen the reports referred to by the Deputy. I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that it has always been their policy to request a contribution to the cost of an extension of their supply lines if expected revenue appeared inadequate to remunerate the cost of the extension. In the case of extensions to new housing schemes the decisive factor in assessing the economics is the expected degree of utilisation of electricity in the houses. Thus, if houses are insufficiently wired, or equipped with non-electric means of cooking, water heating, et cetera, the board must make the correspondingly lower estimates of revenue which, in turn, reduces the amount of capital the board can economically invest in the extension.