Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rural and urban standing charges on electricity bills; the reason for the difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57396/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The unprecedented increase in international wholesale gas prices have continued as result of the volatility in the international gas market driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war. These gas increases feed directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by your question, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999.   I understand, electricity customers are allocated to a Distribution Use of System (DUoS) Group (DG). Urban customers are in DG1, while rural customers are in DG 2. This is done and set out as part of the connection agreement. All electricity users pay a DUoS charge, which is set by the CRU and paid through electricity bills. The charge for rural customers is higher than urban due to factors such as population dispersal. Details of these charges are set out in the following CRU Decision Paper: CRU202291-Tariff-Review-2022_2023-Response-and-Decision-Paper-FINAL.pdf

The CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matter raised in this question, to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply .

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the Commissioner for the Regulation of Utilities engaging with energy providers on the prevention of electricity theft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57469/22]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received any reports from the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities on electricity theft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57470/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. The theft of electricity is a very serious matter from both a safety standpoint and as a distinct criminal offence in accordance with the Energy (Misc. Provisions) Act 2012. The theft of electricity adds to the cost of electricity for all customers.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 the Minister. 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. The CRU has responsibility for, inter alia, safety and theft matters.

ESB Networks, who are the Distribution System Operator, undertake revenue protection related work in accordance with the obligations placed upon them by condition 7 of their Distribution System Operator (DSO) licence. ESB Networks are accountable to the CRU in respect of the fulfilment of their obligations under their DSO licence.

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matter raised in this question. Such queries can be submitted to oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received any reports from the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities on gas theft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57471/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Matters relating to theft of gas are an operational issue for Gas Networks Ireland and for the Board and management of that company, which is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I, as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, have no statutory function in such matters and therefore I have not received any such reports from the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities. However, in such a case there may be an element of overlap between Gas Networks Ireland and the work of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU has responsibility for safety matters and it would appear that the theft of gas and / or tampering with a gas meter are issues which may give rise to serious safety concerns.

As the Deputy will be aware the CRU is accountable to the Oireachtas and not to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. I have therefore received no reports from them in relation to this matter.

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matter raised in this question. Such queries can be submitted to oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.