Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he and-or the Commission for Regulation of Utilities granted ESB Networks permission to extract granular data from electric smart metres; if he will provide the process that persons can follow to opt-out of this practice; and if he will provide the point at which persons could avail of an opt-in. [56310/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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149. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention or that of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has been drawn to the lack of a comprehensive data protection impact assessment by ESB Networks regarding information that it gleans from smart metres (details supplied). [56311/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.  

Under the National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP) 2.3 million meters will be installed by 2025 and in the process make available new products and services to energy consumers. Oversight of the NSMP is the responsibility of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with the Distribution System Operator, ESB Networks (ESBN), delivering the electricity meter rollout.  

With over 1 million meters already installed, Ireland has now achieved a critical mass. The next step is to ensure that we maximise the benefits of this critical public infrastructure for consumers and for the resilience of our energy system as we accelerate its decarbonisation.  

Crucial to this is ensuring that smart meter customers have access to their consumption data in order to assess opportunities to reduce their use or move their use to off-peak periods where possible, which can reduce the carbon footprint of their use and potentially save them money on their bills. In order to facilitate this, ESBN will shortly launch a new online Customer Portal. The portal will be populated on a phased basis over the coming months and will allow domestic electricity consumers to access a number of ESBN services, including their validated historical consumption data, which customers could then use to shift their energy use and engage with their suppliers.  

Articles 19 to 24 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 on the common rules for the Internal Market in Electricity, set out the requirements for smart metering systems for Member States. I signed the European Union (Internal Market in Electricity)(No.2) Regulations (SI No 37 of 2022), which transposed these articles, on 25 January 2022. These regulations place a requirement on ESBN that 'validated historical consumption data shall be collected by the Distribution System Operator and shall be made easily and securely available and visualised to final customers on request and at no additional cost'. The regulations also require that 'the privacy of final customers and the protection of their data shall comply with relevant European Union data protection and privacy rules'.  

Further detail on ESBN Data protection measures for the NSMP can be found at: www.esbnetworks.ie/existing-connections/meters-and-readings/smart-meter-upgrade/more-information-on-smart-meters-and-data  

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members at oireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters to CRU for timely, direct, reply.