Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the interactions he has with the Commissioner for Energy Regulation; if the challenges caused by Covid-19 have been discussed in these engagements; and if the particular point of fixed energy charges for businesses that have been closed has been discussed. [15473/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is the independent regulator. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.

In May 2020 CRU introduced the Temporary Supply Suspension Scheme for certain small and medium size business customers impacted by Covid 19 restrictions to apply to have their fixed network charges suspended, with details at . The scheme ran from the 1st of May until the 31st of July. Section 35(2) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 specifically provides that CRU may give directions to the System operator in relation to those specific charges.

Accordingly, the matter of any schemes for the deferral of SME energy and network charges in the Covid context is for the CRU in the performance of its functions as the independent regulator under the regulatory framework. EU Member States must guarantee the independence of their respective energy regulators, which are expressly forbidden from taking direct instructions from a government, or any public body, when performing their regulatory functions.

The CRU is, under statute, accountable for the performance of its functions to a Committee of the Oireachtas. It provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, oireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them raise questions on electricity and gas regulatory matters such that raised in the question, with CRU, for timely direct reply.

As Minister I meet on an ongoing basis with a range of energy stakeholders. As part of those engagements, in September last, I met with senior management of CRU to discuss a range of issues relevant to my portfolio. There are also regylar engagements between my officials and the CRU.