Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding standing charges imposed by energy companies on electricity and energy bills; if he has engaged with the CRU with a view to expanding their remit regarding standing charges and energy providers on the consistently high levels of these charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the independent regulator, Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, CRU ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014.

Price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges, is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Each such company has its own different approach to pricing decisions over time, in accordance with factors such as their overall company strategic direction and developments in their cost base. Within a competitive environment, providers also have costs such as staffing, Tax, infrastructure, and cost of Network Tariffs which, in turn, affects end users’ bills.

Network tariffs, which are a significant component of a customer's standing charge, are used to finance the maintenance and expansion of Ireland's electricity grid which are necessary tasks on ensuring our journey to a Net Zero. This will have long run benefits for electricity users throughout Ireland.

The CRU is an independent statutory regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions to the a Committee of the Oireachtas. 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.