Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when smart metering displays will be rolled out for domestic electricity and gas use; the role of his Department in considering such a strategy; and the timeline in this regard. [21700/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Smart Metering Programme is managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation and includes both electricity and gas meters. Officials from my Department are members of the steering group that has oversight of the National Smart Metering Programme. The most recent phase of consultation concluded in April this year with the publication of policy papers relating to customer information, customer protection and the wider transition from traditional to smart meters.

Last month, ESB Networks commenced the procurement process for electricity smart meters and communications systems by issuing a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The key determinant of the scale, scope and timing of the roll-out is a cost benefit analysis that is currently being developed by the Commission for Energy Regulation. The cost information from the procurement process will be a key input into the cost benefit analysis, the results of which are due in the first quarter of 2017. 

The roll-out of smart meters would take a number of years and will commence in late 2018 at the earliest. In-home display would be available to all consumers to allow them to see their level of energy use. The ‘go live’ date of smart services will follow once a significant number of smart meters have been rolled out. This will allow energy suppliers to provide detailed information to consumers on their energy use.