Vol. 541 No. 2
244 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will review the current arrangements regarding the supply of independently produced electricity through the Electricity Supply Board network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21867/01]
I have no current plans to review the arrangements regarding the supply of electricity through the electricity network. The Commission for Electricity Regulation, an independent body, was established under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, and took over from ESB the key function of, among others, overseeing access to the transmission and distribution systems and related charges.
In addition, the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000, set out the functions of the transmission system operator, distribution system operator and transmission system owner in relation to the transmission and distribution of electricity. These functions are discharged under licence issued by the Commission for Electricity Regulation. In the case of transmission grid, it will be operated by Eirgrid, a new State company independent of ESB. Compliance with licence conditions is a matter for the commission.
