Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007
518 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has permitted the ESB to build a new power station at Aghada, County Cork, only on condition that it sells the output of the station to its competitors; and his views on whether this will lead to a rise in electricity prices to the consumer. [9689/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my approval to ESB, on 28 December 2006, to proceed with this project, had as a condition, that output from the station be sold to suppliers other than ESB Power Electricity Supply as a means of facilitating further the development of competition in electricity supply.
Electricity pricing is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 as amended by Section 3 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2005. I have no function in this matter.
