Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2023
171. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has engaged with the CRU regarding the regulation of companies providing heating to multiple unit dwellings, so that the accuracy of metering systems for recording usage and consumer protection in contracts can be properly regulated; and if it is intended to seek sanction for new regulations. [12049/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDistrict heating schemes are large-scale systems that are supplied by one or several centralised or decentralised heat sources and serve multiple buildings and multiple customers. Group, or communal, heating schemes are smaller-scale systems that supply single buildings or complexes. End users in group or communal heating schemes are supplied with heat rather than fuel and the heat supplier in these schemes purchases the fuel at commercial rates, primarily natural gas.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has been assigned responsibility for regulation of district heating networks.
The statutory functions of the CRU in relation to regulation of district heating are contained in SI 350 of 2022 and SI 630 of 2022. Under SI 350 of 2022, which transposed Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU, suppliers to district heat networks shall provide information on the energy performance and the share of renewable energy in district heating and cooling systems to final consumers in an easily accessible manner. SI 630 of 2022 contains regulatory provisions in relation to metering and billing for district heating and units of multi-apartment or multi-purpose buildings where such units are supplied from a central source.
My Department is currently liaising with the CRU to ensure the development of an appropriate regulatory framework for district heating, to include making currently assigned functions fully operational as soon as possible. The CRU is also assessing the specific regulatory needs of group heating schemes to ensure their inclusion in a regulatory framework, as a priority.
