Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a few brief questions on costs, which are important in terms of public perception and the public purse. On prices and moving to different forms of energy to protect against rises in electricity prices, Ireland has the fourth highest electricity prices in the European Union. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities appears to judge competition in the market on switching rates alone. These are not fully indicative of competition in the market. Some people cannot be bothered to switch, while others know that if they switch, they will go back to the original contract after perhaps a year. What investigations is the CRU doing in the market? It is seeking further powers but more powers bring greater responsibility? Is the CRU using the powers it already has to investigate individual suppliers? Investigations into pricing in the market are important because pricing is key to people buying into the new technology.

Regarding delays in connections, there have been many complaints from different industries about delays but that was alluded to earlier.

The witnesses spoke about the use of smart meters for energy efficiency. The CRU is also the regulator of water services. The reference to smart meters and water in the same sentence will not cut it with the public. We saw this in the outrage expressed in marches on the streets, which resulted in the idea of universal metering being abandoned. In terms of having smart meters for water, we need data on water use and quality and we need ideas at community level on where it is going. The introduction of meters is anathema to people. Unfortunately, legislation providing that the public water system would remain in public ownership was voted down. Would it help to have such a provision inserted in the Constitution? We will at some stage need to quantify all the data on water usage. There is not much on water in the CRU's submission, which is focused on energy. While I understand that, water services are also crucial to our sustainability.