Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the carbon revenue levy imposed on generators commenced; if the receipts have been sent in by the companies concerned; the person who will benefit from this levy; when will the levy be paid to the customer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37783/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Act 2010 was enacted by the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President last June.

The Act provides for the introduction of a Carbon Revenue Levy which will recover a substantial portion of the windfall gains of electricity generators. These gains arise from the inclusion of carbon among the revenues that electricity generators currently receive in the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM). The levy will remain in place until the end of 2012.

As stipulated in the Act, the first three month levy period began on 1st July and ended on 30th September. The Act requires all electricity generators to submit details of their carbon emissions over the first levy period to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) by close of business on 14th October. I can inform the House that all relevant electricity generators have complied with this provision.

In accordance with the Act the CER will now issue notices to electricity generators by close of business on 21st October, informing them of the average price of carbon over this levy period and the amount of the carbon revenue levy payable by each generator. Each electricity generator must then pay the amount specified within 15 working days of receipt of the notice given by the CER.

The CER will distribute the funds received from electricity generators to Large Energy Users (LEUs) in accordance with the Direction given to the CER by me in August of this year and as stated in their information note, CER/10/155, published on September 1st.

There are two elements to these rebates. A fixed element is applied as a credit to each LEU's contracted electricity capacity each month. A variable element, also known as the kWh element, is calculated and applied based on customer consumption.

Both credits will benefit all Large Energy Users connected at Distribution Group Seven and above and all Transmission connected customers, irrespective of supplier.

The rebates will apply from 1st October 2010 to 30th September 2011. It is anticipated that in the region of €80 million will be distributed to large energy users over this period.