Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Energy Costs

8:00 pm

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 19 May 2009, the specific EUROSTAT publication she is referring to when she quoted that small and medium sized enterprises here pay 1% below the EU average for energy; the reference number or name of the EUROSTAT publication; the further breakdown of energy costs available for all businesses classified as small or medium sized; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22211/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Eurostat publishes six monthly reports on electricity and gas prices across the EU. The methodology applied to reporting on prices by Member States is set out under the EU Gas and Electricity Price Transparency Directive. Eurostat data for the period January - June 2008 has been published on the Eurostat website. The title and reference number of this Eurostat publication is "Data in focus: Environment in Energy, No. 45/2008". Eurostat's online energy database contains the specific breakdown of business electricity prices by consumption bands.

The reference to the fact that smaller Irish SMEs were paying 1% below the average EU 27 electricity price is highlighted in the Sustainable Energy Ireland publication Understanding Gas and Electricity Prices in Ireland published in May 2009 and reflecting the Eurostat data referred to above. Smaller SMEs are defined as those that use under 20 Megawatt hours of electricity annually. Approximately 60% of the ESB's Small and Medium Enterprise customers fall under this category. Energy costs in Ireland for larger Small and Medium Enterprises, constituting a minority of Irish SMEs, are between 18% and 52% higher than the EU average.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.