Energy Prices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 December 2013

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Ceisteanna (15)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

15. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to compel energy companies to introduce a mechanism of providing schools, small businesses and community or voluntary organisations with a credit on energy bills in recognition of the unused electricity generated by their domestic size wind turbines which is currently fed back to the national grid without any compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51676/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity tariffs, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Prices in the electricity retail market are now fully deregulated. Price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Electric Ireland has been offering a feed-in tariff to domestic microgenerators since February 2009. The scheme has now been extended to the end of 2014. Individual electricity supply companies remain free to make payment offerings in respect of surplus electricity supplied to the grid on a commercial basis. No other electricity supply company has chosen to enter the market and to offer a microgeneration feed-in-tariff, although the CER invited them to do so.