Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Electricity Generation

8:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán CuffeCiarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects the separation of the transmission grid operations from the ESB to occur; if legislative changes would be required to transfer the actual ownership of the transmission grid assets to Eirgrid; and if his Department has considered such a move. [2185/06]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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EirGrid has been established as the transmission system operator, TSO, for the electricity network under part 11 of SI 445 of 2000, pursuant to the second EU internal market directive on electricity which requires the vertical unbundling of utilities. The timeframe for completion of the separation of EirGrid is predicated on having in place: the asset agreement; TSO licence; and transfer agreement in relation to staff.

The asset agreement between ESB as asset owner and EirGrid as transmission systems operator was approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, in October 2005. The agreement is required given the fact that ownership of the transmission grid assets is remaining with the ESB. The TSO licence has been finalised and published by CER but is not yet operational. The details of the staff transfer agreement have not yet been finalised and agreed by all concerned. Pending finalisation of all the required steps, the CEO and some 70 directly recruited staff of EirGrid are temporarily seconded by that company to operate the grid through the ESB National Grid.

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