Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The actual cost was difficult to predict. This was due to the multitude of variables at play, which are not within the control of the Government. These include the average unit prices incurred by businesses for energy during the claim period and the corresponding reference period. This will influence how many businesses will satisfy the energy cost threshold, the contractual arrangements businesses have entered into and when those arrangements come into play or come to an end. These variables include favourable fixed-price contracts that might reduce the overall unit costs incurred by some businesses; changes to the price of energy on the wholesale market and the impact those changes will have on the retail market over the duration of the scheme; the level of energy used by businesses and the impact of any energy-saving measures on such usage over the winter months; and the number of businesses that ultimately make a claim for relief under the scheme. These were some of the challenges the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications had to consider in arriving at an estimate of the potential cost.