Mr. John Melvin:

We are engaging with the industry on the demand side to remove what are seen to be obstacles to greater participation in the demand-side industry. Removing an obstacle does not necessarily mean that the industry will take the removal of the obstacle as an opportunity to then participate. We cannot mandate industry to participate in the demand-side, in a general sense. All we can do is seek to remove obstacles.

Another aspect of the Deputy's question refers to work under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, more than the CRU. Energy supply companies have obligations under a European directive from 2012 or 2014 to offer energy saving advice and engagement with their end customers. This is done through SEAI's part of the energy sphere rather than us. On the matter of accepting that demand comes and is not expected to be flexible, a significant change is required in the energy industry and among the demand customers. The European regulation that is currently being developed seeks active participation from demand side, both at peak and with reductions in demand next winter, over the whole period and especially at peak periods. We held a consultation on the network tariffs. There are elements which we can address, barriers we can remove and signals which we can send. Active participation has to come from the entities and, under the GDPR rules, it has to come from individuals in their homes, who would seek to participate and use those smart meters.