Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019
575. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the financial supports available to improve the electricity capacity of regional towns in order that they can attract industries or grow existing industries. [53356/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectricity supply to the distribution grid is an operational matter for ESB Networks, which is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. I therefore have no function in the matter. I understand that Eirgrid, the transmission system operator, adopts a balanced approach to grid development and this is an integral part of their grid rollout process. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) employs a mechanism for setting revenue allowances for the Network companies through a 5-year revenue allowance process, this is called a Price Review. The current price review for electricity (referred to as PR4) runs from January 2016 to December 2020. The CRU have commenced the PR5 Electricity Network Tariff Review process. This process will reach fruition with a CRU decision on allowable network revenues for 2020-2025 dovetailing with the end of PR4 in September 2020.
