Ms Aoife MacEvilly:

I will start with smart meters. I thank the Deputy. The roll-out of smart meters and the introduction of smart services does offer the opportunity for customers to avail of cheaper rates at times when it is less expensive to generate electricity, which are often times when there may be more renewables available on the grid. All suppliers offer time-of-use tariffs which, under the standard framework, typically have day, night and peak rates. There are opportunities available to save money right now, particularly for people who may be charging electric vehicles or have heat pumps and who could avail of a night time rate. All suppliers are required to offer at least one standard smart tariff but most of them offer, in addition, a range of innovative product offerings. In fact, our understanding is the customers who have already taken up smart tariff options are probably predominantly going into the category of the more innovative offerings that can be tailored to the consumption habits of customers.

The point raised by the Deputy regarding information being provided to customers in respect of their consumption habits is an important one. At the moment, effectively, the data are retained on the meter side. It is only when a customer moves to a smart tariff that the supplier starts getting the data from the meter that are necessary in order to enable calculation of the smarter tariff day, night and peak rates, let us say. Subject to new legislation, we will be working to develop further opportunities for customers to be able to access their own data at any time in order to be able to make exactly the kind of choices the Deputy outlined. The concept of providing that at the same time as the three month notification that is required coming up to the end of the tariff is an interesting one that we may take away and consider.

Does Mr. Melvin wish to add to that in the context of the first two questions?