Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Going back to the document the CRU provided regarding the breakdown of domestic electricity bills, the witnesses mentioned that much of the increase in costs is down to international prices and the fact that we are at the end of a pipeline. I note from this that 70% of the costs fall under the remit of areas the CRU regulates such as wholesale and network costs. The witnesses mentioned wholesale costs. The costs in Ireland are still significantly higher. The witnesses referred to the eurozone and the fact that we are at the end of a pipeline but tariffs in the North are still significantly cheaper even though we have a single electricity market. What is the CRU doing on regulating wholesale costs? In 2021, €372 million was the cost of supplier capacity while €330 million was an imperfection charge. The CRU has a direct role in these. Is it not true that the regulator approves network costs and that they comprise 38.1% of a domestic bill? For people who may be listening at home, the network costs involve EirGrid and gas networks. ESB Networks owns the grid. Does the CRU have the capacity to analyse what ESB Networks is sending in to see whether we are getting value in the network costs because my understanding is the CRU budget is €15.9 million of which it has spent €3.9 million on consultancy?

My questions concern the area that makes up 70% of the cost of bills and for which the CRU is responsible. What is it doing directly to intervene regarding those costs?