Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the equipment that generates electricity which requires a licence from the CER to operate and the circumstances of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34772/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (the Act) prescribes that a person shall not construct or reconstruct a generating station unless an authorisation has been granted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

The conditions under which the CER may grant or refuse to grant a license to generate electricity are prescribed out in Section 14 (1) of the Act, as amended by sections 32 and 16 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 and 2005 respectively (SI 445 of 2000 and SI 60 of 2005).

I am advised that under the existing application process, applicants must provide certain information to the CER as set out in the application forms and guidance notes published on the CER's website. This process provides that applications regarding generating stations below 5 MW need not be accompanied by the same financial information as those above 5MW.

This reduced information requirement is in line with Section 17 (2B) of the Act as inserted by Regulation 14 (c) of SI 60 of 2005, which requires that the CER ensures that authorisation procedures for small generators and distributed generation take into account their limited size and potential impact.

Applications for an authorisation are assessed under the criteria stated in SI 309 of 1999 (Electricity Regulation Act (Criteria for Determination of Authorisations) Order, 1999). Following the amendments to the Act arising from SI 60 of 2005, the CER may now licence the generation of electricity and authorise the construction or reconstruction of a class or classes of generating stations by way of Order. As outlined in Sections 16(3A) and 14(1A) of the Act, the construction or reconstruction and the generation of electricity from such generating stations will be subject to the terms and conditions as may be specified in the relevant Order.

I am advised that the CER is currently reviewing the process for the granting of authorisations and licenses. It is holding a public consultation in this regard and has published a consultation paper on its website at http://www.cer.ie/cerdocs/cer06195.pdf. Interested parties have been invited to contact the CER before 27 October 2006.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason the Commissioner for Energy Regulation has ruled out the use of net metering to deal with the issue of spill into the grid. [34783/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a review of connection standards and processes for smaller generators, and the implications of the Single Electricity Market for small-scale electricity generation.

These technical and administrative issues are currently being addressed, and my Department is working with the relevant agencies, including SEI, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), ESB Networks and the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland in this regard.

As part of the ongoing work to progress this area, the CER has recently launched a public consultation on arrangements for micro generation which deals with metering issues.

We are working to ensure that the appropriate administrative, technical and safety standards and practices are in place to underpin programmes for the widespread deployment of micro generation technologies. I am confident that appropriate solutions suited to the context of the Irish electricity grid and for non-grid connected technologies will be developed with a view to progressing this emerging sector.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent of the CER's authority to require owners and operators of generators of all types to apply to the CER for a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34836/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (the Act) prescribes that a person shall not construct or reconstruct a generating station unless an authorisation has been granted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

The conditions under which the CER may grant or refuse to grant a license to generate electricity are prescribed out in Section 14 (1) of the Act, as amended by sections 32 and 16 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 and 2005 respectively (SI 445 of 2000 and SI 60 of 2005).

I am advised that under the existing application process, applicants must provide certain information to the CER as set out in the application forms and guidance notes published on the CER's website. This process provides that applications regarding generating stations below 5 MW need not be accompanied by the same financial information as those above 5MW.

This reduced information requirement is in line with Section 17 (2B) of the Act as inserted by Regulation 14 (c) of SI 60 of 2005, which requires that the CER ensures that authorisation procedures for small generators and distributed generation take into account their limited size and potential impact.

Applications for an authorisation are assessed under the criteria stated in SI 309 of 1999 (Electricity Regulation Act (Criteria for Determination of Authorisations) Order, 1999). Following the amendments to the Act arising from SI 60 of 2005, the CER may now licence the generation of electricity and authorise the construction or reconstruction of a class or classes of generating stations by way of Order. As outlined in Sections 16(3A) and 14(1A) of the Act, the construction or reconstruction and the generation of electricity from such generating stations will be subject to the terms and conditions as may be specified in the relevant Order.

I am advised that the CER is currently reviewing the process for the granting of authorisations and licenses. It is holding a public consultation in this regard and has published a consultation paper on its website at http://www.cer. ie/cerdocs/cer06195.pdf. Interested parties have been invited to contact the CER before 27 October 2006.