Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding setting up a new agency called Smartgrid which will incorporate Eirgrid and ESB Networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37821/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In July 2011, the Government decided that, in the context of the EU Third Energy Package, the ownership of the electricity transmission network is to remain with ESB while the operation and development of the transmission network will continue to be the responsibility of EirGrid. Ownership and operation of the electricity distribution network will remain with ESB. ESB Networks owns the transmission and distribution networks.

As part of the State Assets disposal programme, the Government has decided to dispose of some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity. ESB will remain a vertically integrated utility, positioned more competitively in the all island energy market and in due course in the integrated European Market. The Government has reiterated its commitment to retaining the electricity networks in State ownership as national strategic infrastructure, critical for the delivery of secure, sustainable and competitive energy supplies. There are therefore no plans to proceed with setting up a new agency to incorporate EirGrid and ESB Networks.