Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 Mar 1999

Vol. 503 No. 1

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

33 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the effect of the Electricity Regulation Bill, 1998, in terms of the opening up of the market to generation capability as currently framed by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9148/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The Electricity Regulation Bill, 1998, once enacted, will open up 28 per cent of the market in electricity to competition, and will provide for independent but accountable regulation of the electricity industry in Ireland. There is also provision in the Bill for the access by any customer to electricity produced by renewable or alternative energy sources.

The 28 per cent of the electricity market which will be open to competition will consist of the biggest electricity users in the State; about 320 customers in all. The market opening will be further increased to 32 per cent by 2003, so that the benefits of open and fair competition, to both the Irish economy and to the electricity companies themselves, will be extended even further.

I understand that a number of private sector interests are at present actively developing plans to enter the Irish electricity market. ESB are also making plans for new plant, and I have recently given approval to ESB for capital expenditure in the preparatory work up to completion of the planning permission process.

Both ESB and any private sector interests will, of course, require an authorisation to construct new plant from the Commission for Electricity Regulation once established under the Bill now before the House.