Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to deal with the concerns being expressed in respect of energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46690/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) collects and publishes energy statistics to support policy analysis and development in line with national needs and international obligations. On 1st December 2010 SEAI published a review of Electricity and Gas Prices in Ireland from January 2010–June 2010, which highlights the continued fall in electricity and gas prices over the last year as Ireland strengthens its competitive position. Both householders and businesses have benefited from falling energy costs. Householders experienced a large fall in electricity prices of 12% bringing prices in line with the EU average. Domestic gas prices also fell by 23%.

It is important that all customers who are concerned about energy costs should shop around and take advantage of the value and choice available in the competitive electricity market. To date an estimated 28% of households have switched their electricity supplier, taking advantage of the significant discounts currently available.

In recognition that the current economic climate is placing additional pressures on energy consumers and that customers rights needs to be enhanced, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has recently announced its decision that the cost of disconnections for electricity and gas be shared equally between the supplier and the customer in the case of non-payment of account. This is an interim measure commencing December 22nd and will remain in place for 12 months. CER will also begin a review on the disconnections charges levied by networks companies. The Code of Practice for Disconnections has been revised to include additional supplier measures to assist domestic customers in managing their bills and reducing disconnection rates. I also welcome the recent decision by ESB, Bord Gáis and Airtricity, to suspend disconnections during the current bad weather spell.

CER is also currently running a Smart Metering pilot scheme, which aims to establish how the potential benefits of smart metering can be best applied to prepayment meters for both electricity and gas. The trial, along with a cost-benefit analysis, is due to be completed in early 2011.

I am also working closely with the Ministers for Social Protection and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to deliver a fully cohesive Government response to the challenges of addressing energy affordability in Ireland. I expect the Affordable Energy Strategy to be submitted to me shortly with a view to bringing it to Government in the coming weeks.

This strategy will be the framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect vulnerable households at risk from the effects of energy poverty. These measures include social welfare supports such as the Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits package, advice on energy efficiency.