Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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142. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a percentage of electricity cost attributed to transmission and the PSO. [54583/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Responsibility for the regulation of energy markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation(CER) which is an independent statutory body. In 2010 the CER made a decision to stop regulating electricity prices. I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. A customer’s electricity bill is made up of a number of components including energy costs, distribution and transmission network charges, Public Service Obligation (PSO) and supply costs. Transmission charges are in place to fund the cost of the use of transmission system infrastructure for the transportation of electricity. The CER has informed me that transmission charges comprise circa 4%-6% of a typical electricity bill.

The PSO levy has been in place since 2001. It is the overall support mechanism for generation constructed for security of supply purposes (including peat generation) and for the development of renewable electricity. The CER has informed me that the PSO also comprises circa 4%-6% of a typical residential bill.