Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on calls for the provision of more detailed information on customers' electricity bills, which could show the public service levy or credit that is applied to different energy resources; and his further views on whether the public service levy for wind power is being used to subsidise peat generated power under the current support system. [14401/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) Orders, public service obligations have been placed on the ESB regarding the availability of electricity produced using indigenous peat, electricity produced using renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy and electricity produced using peaking generation units. The orders provide for the recovery, by way of a levy on final customers, of the additional costs including a reasonable rate of return on the capital represented by such costs, where appropriate, incurred by the ESB in complying with the orders. The levy is estimated, calculated, adjusted, collected, monitored, certified, accounted for and paid in accordance with the provisions of the orders. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is responsible for the computation of the basis of the amount of levy payable in each year and for the approval of the procedures for the collection and payment of the levy amounts. Information regarding the levy is included on all bills to customers.

The European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2005 make provision for suppliers to provide reliable information on all bills and promotional materials sent to customers regarding the contribution of each energy source to the overall fuel mix of the supplier concerned over the preceding year. In addition, the provision of information regarding environmental impact of electricity produced from that fuel mix is required. I am advised by the CER that it is working with the settlement system administrator, SSA, to develop a methodology for the central calculation of the fuel mix of suppliers. In March the CER published a consultation document setting out its proposals for the calculation of the fuel mix for each supplier until the commencement of the single electricity market in July 2007. The CER plans to issue a decision paper shortly following a review of the comments received.

I am advised by the CER that there has been no cross-subsidisation by wind power of peat generated power under PSO arrangements.