Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timescale involved in the roll out of net metering as was promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28990/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for a commitment to install smart electronic meters in every home as per the programme for Government, in view of the announcement on the pilot scheme for smart meter installation; the full cost for the pilot scheme and the estimated cost for the roll out to every home; the geographic locations of the pilot scheme; if this will facilitate the introduction of a micro generation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28975/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 22 together.

The introduction of net-metering facilities for micro-scale producers will be enabled by the introduction of smart metering technology. The Government's Energy Policy Framework and Programmes for Government commit to the introduction of smart meters to every customer in the country over the next five years. The smart meter programme is a key component of the Government's Strategy to radically improve demand, management and energy efficiency and to enable the development of micro generation and distributed generation on a wider scale.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will lead the implementation of smart metering which entails a first phase to scope out potential applications and the technical and system developments appropriate in the context of the Irish electricity market. Informed by this work ESB Networks will commence a first phase roll out of 25,000 smart meters at an estimated cost of €10 million. The ESB Networks programme currently envisages the first meters being installed in the second quarter of 2008. The geographic locations of the smart meters in the first phase roll out has not yet been finalised but will include a number of mixed network sites in urban and rural locations including the Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) sustainable energy community programme in Dundalk.

Microgenerators will be included in the assessment of the optimal design of a smart meter and associated processes. The initial estimate for a full network roll out of smart meters is of the order of some €600 million under the Networks Investment Programme, which is regulated by the CER. The full costs of the project will be determined by the final smart meter design and applications that will be scoped out over the coming period. There will, of course, be significant savings in electricity bills due to greater energy efficiency and also reductions in carbon emissions.