Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 34 together. I am informed there are 364 customers on the ESB microgeneration tariff to date, representing a total connected generation capacity of just in excess of 2 MW. The technologies being deployed are wind turbines, solar installations and small-scale hydro turbines. ESB Networks is currently processing 18 customer applications and these are at different stages of completion. ESB Networks agreed in 2009 to provide the necessary import and export metering free of charge to the first 4,000 domestic microgeneration customers. ESB Networks also provides a support payment of ten cent per kilowatt hour for those eligible customers for the first 3,000 kW hours exported back to the grid annually for a period of five years.

The take-up has been disappointingly low despite an overall tariff rate of 19 cent per kilowatt hour being available. This compares to the wholesale electricity price, which is currently averaging approximately seven cent per kilowatt hour. Currently, ESB Customer Supply, now rebranded ESB Electric Ireland, is the only electricity supplier in the market offering microgeneration tariffs to domestic customers who generate up to 11 kW.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, is currently completing an 18 month microgeneration pilot scheme and is monitoring the performance of the 42 installations involved. Those participating in the pilot have been able to avail of the tariffs offered. The findings from the pilot will provide valuable data with regard to microgeneration and which will inform policy decisions on how best to stimulate the sector. In line with the programme for Government commitment, I have asked my Department and the SEAI to finalise their cost-benefit analysis work on a feed in tariff programme for microgeneration. Any such programme must be fully cost effective and take into consideration the overall cost implications for all electricity consumers.

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