Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 962: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has agreed with the ESB the installation of smart electronic meters in every home in order that people can reduce their bills; when this will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26921/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The rollout of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. The Smart Meter programme is a central component of our strategy to significantly enhance management of demand for electricity and to achieve greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology.

The delivery of smart metering requires a collective response. This is a technically complex and ambitious initiative. The Steering Group overseeing programme implementation is chaired by the Commission for Energy Regulation and includes representation from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB Networks, ESB Customer Supply and independent suppliers as well as my Department. There are also four working groups, reporting directly to the Steering Group, which are mandated to progress the complex technical aspects of smart metering including Tariffs, Billing/Data Services, Networks and Customer Behaviour.

ESB Networks is currently engaged in the final stages of a tender process to select smart meters for testing in the pilot phase, which is due to begin at the end of the year. In parallel, work is well advanced on the design of the customer behaviour and tariff aspects of the pilot phase, led by SEI and ESB Customer Supply respectively. In addition, good progress has also been made on the preparation of an interim data solution to be used during the pilot to deal with the much expanded quantity of data which will be generated by the interval reading functionality of smart metering.

The combined results of these work streams will define the number of installations necessary to achieve the objectives of the pilot phase. The overall objective remains to complete the national smart meter programme in five years, thereby providing an advanced cost effective electricity metering system which will deliver tangible benefits to all consumers of electricity.