Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the installation of pilot scheme smart electronic meters; when same will be rolled out to every home as per the Programme for Government; the cost of 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; the arrangements in place for electricity customers of Bord Gáis and Airtricity to be involved in the smart metering project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3424/10]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll out of smart meters by the ESB to homes here. [3401/10]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 125: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the smart meters, the installation of more than 1,900 meters for the customer behaviour trial of the gas element has been completed; when the trials will begin; when same will be completed; the original timeframe for completion of the smart meter trials overall; the estimated cost of the whole smart meter project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3431/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date in the implementation of the smart metering programme; the extent of its performance; the potential expansion in each of the next three years; the net benefit in terms of prices charged to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3322/10]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 121, 125 and 135 together.

The Smart Metering Project is progressing well in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government. The Smart Metering Project is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand, create smart networks and deliver greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology.

Smart Metering is also now seen at European Union level as a critical dimension of energy demand management in the interests of consumers and businesses. At the recent informal meeting of EU Energy Ministers, the Spanish Presidency and the Commission both confirmed the importance of moving ahead with smart meter programmes across Europe. I am pleased to say that Ireland is to the forefront among Member States in our progress on the smart meter agenda.

The national smart metering programme covers both electricity and gas. The pilot phase of the project, which encompasses technology and customer behaviour trials, is under way to schedule. Technology trials are testing a number of advanced metering systems and their associated IT and communications infrastructure. Customer behaviour trials are determining the potential of smart meters to achieve measurable change in consumer behaviour. The trials are essential to ensure that the optimum and most cost effective technology and systems are identified for the implementation phase.

The electricity trials will be completed to schedule at the end of this year.

The electricity technology trial is assessing metering functionality and supporting information and communications systems. Installation of up to 5,000 meters has commenced for technology testing in Limerick/Ennis, Cork City/Bandon and South Dublin/Wicklow.

6,500 participants for the electricity customer behaviour trial have been selected. The group has been selected to ensure that all categories of electricity consumers are represented, both in terms of usage profiles and geographical spread. All meters being used for this trial have been collecting baseline data since 1 July 2009. The trial went live on 1 January this year.

The Customer Behaviour Trial covers both domestic users and SME's. Domestic customers make up the bulk of the trial. It has been agreed that only ESB Customer Supply customers will be involved in the domestic consumer trial due to the costs involved in replicating IT systems. Customers of ESB Customer Supply, Bord Gáis and ESB Independent Energy are involved in the SME trial. The independent suppliers elected not to take part in the pilot phase but they are being kept fully apprised of progress.

The specifications of the metering systems allows the testing of a range of parameters. These include interval metering reading, time of use tariffing and the use of In Home Display devices. They will also provide reliable quality data on actual energy use patterns. This information will lead to significantly better services to consumers including, improved fault monitoring and outage recording, power quality monitoring, reduced theft and losses and improved network planning.

The gas element of the pilot phase is also moving ahead. 1,925 meters have been installed for the Customer Behaviour Trial and have been collecting data since 1 December. A further 500 meters will be installed to facilitate the Gas Technology Trials. These trials will go live next June and will continue until May 2011.

The smart metering pilot project is proceeding in parallel with the work by Sustainable Energy Ireland and ESB on microgeneration. The data gathered from the interval meters being used in the microgeneration scheme will provide vital information on the import and export of electricity. This will feed into the analysis of electricity use under the smart metering pilot project. In turn, the findings of the smart metering pilot will inform the development of a long term microgeneration framework.

The total estimated cost of the smart meter pilot project is approximately €35m which encompasses €30m for the electricity element and €5m for the gas element. The costs of the national roll out will be quantified in light of the results of the pilot project and decisions taken on the most cost effective smart metering/ICT system to deliver the level of functionality required in the Irish market.

In that context a fundamental element of the pilot project is the associated cost benefit analysis. An interim analysis will be completed later this year with the final analysis, to include the results of the gas trials, to be completed by mid next year. The outcome of this cost benefit analysis will critically inform future decisions on the national roll-out of smart meters.