Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the current regulatory framework empowers the Commission for Energy Regulation to ensure the best electricity price is delivered to households and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is Ireland’s independent energy regulator. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in the energy sector.

Ireland’s electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised and competitive, and operate within national and European regulatory regimes. Prices in the retail gas and electricity markets are fully deregulated for all consumers.

Under the regulatory framework, the CER is empowered to oversee the sustainable development of the retail market for the benefit of all electricity customers. To that end, the CER has a number of powers, including setting supplier licence conditions, and undertakes certain activities, such as the publication of the supplier handbook.

The CER was assigned the function of market monitoring in 2010 (S.I. 450 of 2010) and is charged with monitoring, inter alia,rates of customer switching, disconnection rates, customer complaints and whether the development and operation of competition in the supply of electricity is benefiting final customers.

As part of its market monitoring role, the CER periodically briefs the Minister in respect of the findings of its quarterly Electricity and Gas Retail Markets Report. The Minister is satisfied that the regulatory framework allows the CER to monitor the operation of competition in the electricity market, and, as it deems necessary, to take action under the Regulations to ensure that it is working to benefit households and businesses.

As with any competitive market, it is hugely important that consumers would shop around to ensure that they get the best price. I would encourage consumers to either switch supplier or to contact their current supplier to ensure that the best available deal is being provided.

The Green Paper on Energy in Ireland sought views on the conduct of a review of the entire regulatory framework for energy. The responses to that consultation are being considered and will be taken into account in developing future policy in this area.