Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the microgeneration scheme, and if he is aware of concerns of some customers that they will have to wait until at least 2025 to participate despite already having the investment. [3515/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the microgeneration scheme and the following case (details supplied); if he plans any measures to speed up this process; if delays will be compensated or any additional supports provided; if there are any alternatives for this business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3516/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
In December 2021, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to compensate renewables self-consumers for renewable electricity exported to the grid. This decision outlines arrangements for implementation of the tariff, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology, in line with the requirements of Article 21(2)(d) of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). CEG payments for exported quantities must be based on meter data, recorded on a customer’s smart meter, which is the meter of record for the purposes of metering and billing data. In line with the CRU decision paper for the CEG, microgenerators who are not yet eligible for a smart meter exchange may be eligible to be remunerated under deemed export arrangements. Further details are available on the CRU website at www.cru.ie/publications/27028 The National Smart Metering Programme will roll out and install 2.1 million meters by 2025 and in the process make available new products and services to energy consumers. It is co-ordinated by the CRU with ESB Networks (ESBN) delivering the electricity meter rollout on the ground. The meter replacement programme is taking place on a phased basis, with the first phase focussed on the replacement of single-phase 24-hour register meters and the replacement of single-phase Day/Night meters beginning in September 2023. More than 1,579,000 smart meters have been installed to date and more than 71,000 registered micro-generators have had their meter exchanged. ESBN are currently working on a 3-phase smart meter solution, but this process has encountered some delays. As a result, the rollout of 3-phase smart meters is now due to begin in 2025. However, it is important to note that in the interim, renewables self-consumers with 3-phase connections will remain eligible for deemed export payments under the CEG scheme. Moreover, the greatest benefit from Solar PV systems is attained when microgenerators maximise the self-consumption of their generated renewable electricity.
