Written answers
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he gathers data on the number of households that are on a smart tariff following completion of a retrofit as part of the SEAI’s schemes; if so, the proportion, that are on a smart tariff following a retrofit for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; if measures are used to encourage households that have had a retrofit of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5819/24]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) monitors the uptake of smart tariffs across the retail electricity market and began collecting data from Energy Supply companies regarding Time of Use (ToU) tariff uptake from mid-2022.
The CRU have provided the following year end figures, with the latest data accounting for the period to the end of 2023:
| - | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Households with smart meters | 239,000 | 1,091,959 | 1,567,957 |
| Number of customers on a ToU tariff | No end of year data available | 70,663 | 151,554 |
| Number of customers on smart services (MCC12/16) | 43,930 | 143,034 | 298,098 |
| Percentage of smart meter customers withToU tariffs | No end of year data available | 6.5% | 9.7% |
| Percentage of smart meter customers with smart services (MCC12/16) | 18.4% | 13.1% | 19% |
DECC have established a Smart Energy Services working group which among other things, aims to build on the success of Ireland’s smart metering rollout and to develop and implement practical measures for empowering our citizens to play a central role in our energy transition. Central to this is a comprehensive smart energy awareness and engagement campaign, including a one-stop shop smart energy portal currently being developed by SEAI, which will offer a central resource for all of Irelands energy consumers on their smart energy journey.
The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, the Government has put in place a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
Demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high last year with indicative figures from SEAI showing that in 2023:
- A total of 47,952 home energy upgrades were supported. This represents a 76% increase on 2022 levels.
- Of this amount, 17,599 homes achieved a B2 Building Energy Rating. This represents an 107% increase on 2022 levels.
- Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, 5,897 fully funded upgrades for energy poor homes were delivered. This represents a 33% increase in upgrades provided versus 2022.
- In addition, 67,411 applications for grant support were received by SEAI in 2023 equating to a 34% increase on 2022 levels. This indicates a strong pipeline of works for 2024.
The specific data requested by the Deputy is not available.
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