Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is a draft consideration. As I understand it, his draft consideration did not change much in other years. However, it is a draft. If one examines the position, one will find that the cost of fuel is obviously the main driver of the price. When the tariffs were set last year, it was assumed that natural gas would cost 41c per therm. The forward price of gas that is assumed for next year is 58c, which is an increase of 48%. The equivalent increase for oil is approximately 36%. I do not know what level of headroom the regulator provided for in his various calculations of how it will average out over a given period of time. We need to examine those figures. One can see in the regulator's judgment how it is going. The regulator has stated that when he makes his final determination, it will last until the all-island energy market joint regulation report, which comes into effect on 1 November. It is obvious that he is aware of what is happening at present. When he makes his decision shortly, that will be it until 1 November.

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