Written answers
Thursday, 25 January 2024
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Energy Policy
Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of people who received the electricity cost emergency benefit scheme in Winter 2022/2023; and the number of people who availed of the first credit for this winter period 2023/2024. [3339/24]
Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he can provide an update with regards to developing a policy on private wires; if he can provide an update on the public consultation which took place last year; if he can provide a timeline on when the policy will be finalised; if the policy is on target to be published in 2024 as previously stated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3419/24]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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During 2023, my Department held a public consultation on private wires. The consultation ran from 18th August until 27th October 2023 and during this time over 120 submissions were received. Submissions received in response to the consultation are currently being reviewed and considered by my Department with a report on submission responses expected for publication in Q2.
The aim of this consultation was to gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties alike, to consolidate our understanding of the role which private wires may play in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, as well as to identify the challenges and opportunities such a policy change may present. Publication of the consultation represented the first step towards a final policy and completed action EL/23/15 of the Climate Action Plan 2023.
If permitted for, private wires would allow private individuals and/or undertakings to install their own privately owned electricity infrastructure linking generation with demand. This would represent a major shift in electricity policy in the State and as such may impact upon all citizens while also overhauling aspects of the electricity sector which have been in place since soon after the foundation of the State.
In accordance with Action EL/24/9 of the recently published Climate Action Plan 24, it is intended to publish a private wires policy during Q4 2024.
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