Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the procedures that ESB Networks has in place for distributing details of clean-export guarantee eligibility to each energy provider in respect of NC6 submitters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50131/22]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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197. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide weekly figures for the number of NC6 forms that have been received to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50132/22]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide weekly figures for the number of confirmations of clean-export guarantee eligibility that have been issued to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50133/22]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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199. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff that ESB Networks has assigned to NC6 processing and issuing clean-export guarantee eligibility to providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50134/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196, 197, 198 and 199 together.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister; has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.

As part of this, a renewables self consumer must have installed microgeneration and must have informed ESB Networks of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6 or equivalent form. Full details are available at www.cru.ie.

ESB Networks’ role is to notify the registered supplier that there is a registered export capability at the customers meter point and to provide the meter readings to the supply company. The customer should then engage with their supply company in order to obtain more information relating to export payments through the clean export guarantee.

Once a valid NC6 Form is processed, this triggers a ‘market message’ to the registered supplier for that MPRN, informing the supplier that there is export capability at that site.

Between 4 January 2022 and 5 October 2022, ESB Networks received 11,461 NC6 application forms.

ESB Networks automated the processing of NC6 applications by implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in October 2021 and this has reduced the manual effort involved in processing NC6 forms.

There are dedicated resources in place to manage the NC6 process including managerial and technical support to resolve any queries. I understand that there is currently no backlog in registering NC6 customer applications.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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200. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the remedies and penalties in the legislation establishing the clean-export guarantee scheme for non-compliance by energy providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50135/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On the 15 February this year I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. Responsibility for the regulation of the Electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. More information is available on the CRU website (CRU.ie) under Clean Export Tariff. 

I am aware that suppliers have published a range of CEG tariffs from €13.5c/kWh up to €20c/kWh which allows customers to shop around and switch suppliers to obtain the best rates for selling and purchasing electricity.

I am also aware that the CRU expects all suppliers to put in place measures to make the first payment to customers at the earliest opportunity and had anticipated that some suppliers may have already made the first payment, with others indicating that payment measures will be in place by later in this year.

However, it is important to note that regardless of which supplier you have, micro-generators will not lose out while payment systems are put in place as payments to customers will be backdated to when they either became eligible or to 15 February 2022.  In this regard, it is important for customers to contact their suppliers.

I also understand that the CRU intend to undertake a review of the Interim CEG arrangements after one year.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the protections which will be extended to pay-as-you-go energy customers to prevent disconnections this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50139/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a response will issue to serious concerns raised by a person (details supplied); if any policy can be added to the review framework for persons without electricity meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50158/22]