Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total annual value of subsidies paid to large energy users under the large energy users rebalancing subvention, in each year since it was established, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36630/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 myself as 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 is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and EirGrid, transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU.

System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five-year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews, and network tariffs are set annually by the CRU for the period October to September. The Deputy’s question relates to the Large Energy User Rebalancing Subvention, which ceased from 1st October 2022. The calculation of the LEU rebalancing subvention is within the exclusive remits of CRU and ESB Networks. ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their functions as network operators. The CRU and ESB Networks have respective contact email address for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern such as that raised in the question.

In this regard, it is of note that the CRU and ESB Networks have appeared before the JOC on Environment and Climate Action on a number of occasions in respect of this matter, including January this year. Furthermore, the CRU have published information notes in respect of this subvention.