Trevor Sargent
Ceist:1 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the reason the CSO no longer publishes figures for electricity generating station output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30927/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 8 December 2004
Ceisteanna (1)
Freagraí ó Béal (13 píosaí cainte)
Traditionally, the CSO has compiled a monthly series on the output of electricity generating stations based on information provided by the ESB. This is a long-standing series dating back to 1931.
The introduction of competition in the supply of electricity has made the measurement of total output in the sector more complex than before. The latest figures available are from July 2003. The CSO is currently in active discussions with the relevant data providers and hopes to be able to resume publication of monthly figures on electricity generation before the end of 2004. This will include a full monthly series from July 2003 onwards and the figures will be published on the CSO website.
I thank the Minister of State for his response which indicated the real reason the information is not provided in the form it used to be, namely, because of competition. Does he regret this information is no longer available in this form? The information should be available on a station by station output basis not only for economic reasons but for sound environmental reasons. We generate electricity in different ways. We use coal, gas, peat and, in a small but, hopefully, increasing way, we use renewable sources, such as wind. If we are to measure the cost of producing electricity, we need——
A question please.
The competition element is not a satisfactory——
We are dealing with a question with a very narrow content. It is purely a statistical question. The Deputy should confine himself to that and ask questions——
My question has two parts. I am trying to get the Minister of State's opinion on the fact the statistics have been available on a station by station output basis, but we have no statistics on the environmental impact and cost of electricity generation per station and, with the onset of competition, per company. What measures does the Minister of State intend to put in place to ensure such information is available in the future?
Following the introduction of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, the Commission for Energy Regulation issued more than 40 electricity generation licences. This has made the measurement of electricity generation more complex but, as I said, it is being resolved. We are trying to establish the total amount going onto the network.
As part of its overall strategy to develop greater use of statistics in policy making, the CSO is preparing a report on data needs in the areas of economic and environmental statistics. This follows on similar work it did on social statistics. The CSO report on this project will identify data needs in regard to a wide range of topics, including energy and electricity, and will also examine the potential of administrative data sources to meet some of the information needs. The report should be available from the CSO earlier next year.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Is he aware there is an inexplicable situation in respect of CSO figures in that since July 2003, information on generating station output has not been available? My colleague, Deputy Boyle, quite rightly asked that such information be more detailed, not stopped altogether, given the importance of knowing how we are managing in terms of efficiency, future fuel security and our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. That relates to price as well. Is the Minister of State aware there is approximately 70% efficiency in a number of ESB generating stations?
The Deputy is going outside the content of the question.
Is the Minister of State concerned that for some inexplicable reason, the CSO ceased to publish figures on electricity generating station output in July 2003 and that we are now in a vacuum? Policy cannot be properly planned in a vacuum. What is the Minister of State going to do to ensure the figures are not only produced but are diversified so we have an idea of the output of each generating station, including wind and other sources?
Liberalisation and the fact there are 40 electricity generating licences has made this complex. As I said, the ESB is addressing this, so let us see what it produces. I agree we need the maximum amount of information. In the monthly and annual industrial statistics, the CSO compiles other statistics, for example, value of output, turnover and employment on the overall electricity, gas and water sector. The statistics include the monthly index numbers on production and turnover and annual figures on output and costs on industrial production. The CSO is aware of the issues and problems raised by the Deputies which are being dealt with. Let us see what it produces. This has come about because of changes in the electricity market.
I asked a question specifically about the CSO, not the ESB. I asked why the CSO no longer publishes figures for electricity generating station output. The Minister of State replied that the ESB is addressing this matter. Is the CSO going to publish the figures? If it cannot get figures from the ESB for reasons best known to that company, there should be a heading stating "no figures forthcoming". Currently we do not even have such a heading. We have ceased to produce figures on electricity generating station output since July 2003. That seems to be a decision of the CSO. As the Minister of State responsible for the CSO, will it redress that omission?
The CSO is addressing this omission and will publish the figures shortly.