Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects to set the feed-in tariff for micro generation; when a framework will be published on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30696/12]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012-2020 contained only a single reference to microgeneration projects and no firm, explicit commitments to increasing State support for domestic microgeneration capacity here as part of the State's effort to achieving the 2020 target of 40% for domestic renewable energy generation; if he will provide an update of the pilot smart metering programme that the CER is overseeing with the ESB and BGÉ and make known the findings of the pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30493/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 125 together.

The Programme for Government states that a feed-in tariff will be provided for micro-generators wishing to produce electricity for their own homes, farms and businesses and that they will be facilitated to sell surplus electricity to the grid, while the tariff should not be significantly above the single energy market price for electricity.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) estimates that the single electricity market price will be €64 per megawatt hour in the coming year. A micro-generation support scheme offered by ESB to domestic customers under specified conditions between February 2009 and February 2012, consisting of a combined tariff of €190 per megawatt hour (almost three times the estimated single electricity market price for the coming year) had fewer than 500 subscribers over a three year period.

My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are finalising analysis, which will be submitted to me shortly, on the most cost effective options which could be considered for supporting the micro-generation sector, having regard to the costs and benefits for all energy consumers.

Any increased electricity costs arising from extending such a scheme to PSO supports, such as via a feed-in-tariff, would have to be borne by all electricity consumers.

The National Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand, deliver smart networks and enable greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. It is also in line with EU requirements where Member States are obliged to progress smart metering.

Development and implementation of the national smart metering programme, entrusted to the CER, is progressing to schedule. Phase 1 of the programme, consisting of Technology Trials, Customer Behaviour Trials and a Cost Benefit Analysis for both electricity and gas smart metering have been completed and have proved positive. The CER have published the findings of these detailed studies and they are available on the CER's Website. A CER decision on progress to Phase 2 of the project is expected shortly.