Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

551. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the microgeneration pilot scheme will cease, in view of the positive environmental impact and the savings it has provided for suppliers and entrants to the scheme; and the outcome for those who have already invested in the scheme. [45040/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. I understand Electric Ireland will continue to offer the tariff to their existing customers until the end of 2015. To date, 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 the energy mix. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind and hydro, and solar, 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.