Billy Timmins
Ceist:305 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24642/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 9 June 2010
Ceisteanna (305)
Freagraí scríofa
Electricity losses are an operational matter for the ESB and EirGrid. The Department advises that ESB estimate that losses in the Transmission and Distribution of electricity will be approximately 8.5% of recorded customer usage in 2010. ESB believe that theft and other commercial losses amount to a further 0.5% so that the difference between generated electricity and recorded customer usage will be 9.0% in 2010. The cost of losses to electricity customers is in the region of €150m per annum. ESB has reduced losses in the distribution system in the last 5 years by 0.5% of recorded customer usage. This is mainly as a result of the programme to upgrade rural distribution lines form ten thousand volts (10kV) to 20 thousand volts (20kV). This programme also improves the quality of voltage provided to customers in rural areas. EirGrid also works to minimise losses through the way it operates the transmission system. EirGrid also estimate that the adoption of higher voltages and specialised technologies will result in a reduction of losses on the transmission system.
Losses in the transmission and distribution of electricity are a facet of all power systems worldwide and the figure in Ireland is in line with international experience. Significant reductions require changes to the distribution system which entail substantial capital cost. Both EirGrid and ESB Networks aim to achieve a balance between capital costs and the level of losses when reinforcing or extending its system. EirGrid and ESB's policies and practices in relation to losses are supervised by the Commission for Electricity Regulation.