David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the situation with respect to the clean export guarantee tariff for the commercial sector; if and when such businesses that export solar generated power to the grid will be paid for same; the situation with respect to phase three smart meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1227/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published a decision for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff (CRU21131-Interim-Clean-Export-Guarantee-Decision-Paper.pdf) which outlines arrangements for implementation of the tariff, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology.

To be eligible for remuneration based on metered export quantities, a renewables self-consumer must be eligible for a smart meter installation as part of the ESB Networks led deployment under the National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP) and they must meet the following criteria:

- the renewables self-consumer must meet the definition included in REDII (Renewable Energy Directive II);

- the renewables self-consumer must be exporting electricity to the network based on data transmitted to ESBN;

- the renewables-self consumer must have installed microgeneration and must have informed ESBN of their intention to install microgeneration via a declaration using the NC6, NC7 or equivalent form and

- they must have a smart meter installed to meter their exported electricity. Under the export metered quantity arrangements, the exported quantity recorded and provisioned by ESBN is the final determination of the quantity of export for which customers are to be paid by suppliers.

Under certain conditions outlined in the CRU’s CEG Decision paper, customers with microgeneration but who are not yet eligible for a smart meter (including 3-phase meters) may still avail of the CEG.

Under these conditions a deemed quantity will be calculated by the ESBN. This is the final determination of the quantity for export which customers are to be paid by suppliers.

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

ESB Networks (ESBN), the electricity Distribution System Operator, is delivering the electricity smart meter rollout, which involves the installation of over 2.4 million smart meters by end of 2024. To date, over 1 million smart meters have now been installed. 

My Department has been in contact with ESBN and have been informed that replacement of 3 phase meters is planned to begin in Q4 2023.