Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasoning behind the closure of the Electric Ireland micro-generation pilot scheme to new customers from 31 December 2014, particularly in view of the fact that micro-generation is more affordable and has a much lower carbon footprint than traditional forms of energy generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44533/14]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update regarding Electric Ireland having announced it will no longer buy electricity from residential properties generating electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind - residential consumers connected up to 31 December 2014 were eligible for a 9 cent/kWH export tariff, this now falls to zero; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44541/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.

While this is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland has been offering a micro generation feed in tariff since February 2009. The reasoning behind a decision to close a scheme is a commercial matter for the supplier. No other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they have been invited to do so by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the CER, which is an independent statutory body.

I am aware of the need to give further policy consideration to the place of microgeneration in our energy mix. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar and small scale hydro, has been carried out for my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration.