Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1140: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if in view of the recent decrease in oil prices, this decrease will be further reciprocated by reducing energy costs; and if his Department will seek to immediately curb rising ESB and gas prices in order to ease the burden on consumers. [1404/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGÉ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regulation Act and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002.

I welcome the fact that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) announced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gas from January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease from this month of just less than 1% in the price of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision is reflective of recent easing in international fossil fuel prices, which follows a period of exponential increases in global oil, gas and coal prices. I also welcome the substantial rebate being provided by ESB to all electricity customers, irrespective of which supplier has helped to stabilise electricity prices for 2009. I fully expect that the CER will continue to closely monitor global price trends over the coming months in the context of future decisions on tariffs.