Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Why is it still necessary to keep a set price in the domestic electricity supply market? Why is the Government preventing ESB from competing with the two new competitors that have entered the market in recent months? Will the Minister of State correct himself? He stated the CER is responsible for regulation policy but it is not. The CER is responsible for setting prices; the Government decides on policy on the advice of CER. Could the Minister of State give a timescale for the introduction of a directive that will require the CER to allow for open competition in the domestic electricity supply market so we can see these three major companies competing with one another to drive prices down? Currently, regulation is keeping ESB prices artificially high because it is not allowed to compete aggressively with two other companies that have entered the market and that are capable of dealing with that competition.

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