2. GENERAL ENERGY POLICY

Institutions

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) is the lead government department with responsibility for setting Ireland’s overall energy, climate and environment policies. It replaced the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) in mid-2016, and continues to collaborate with relevant government departments and bodies under its aegis.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) advises the government on: policies related to the reduction of GHG emissions in the energy sector; promoting and administering programmes for renewable energy, energy efficiency and for the development and demonstration of new energy technologies; developing certification schemes for biomass, geothermal, heat pumps and solar systems; and producing Ireland’s energy statistics. On a practical level, it works with local and regional authorities on policy implementation, such as on community energy schemes and liaison with local energy agencies.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. Originally established as the Commission for Energy Regulation in 1999, it changed its name to the CRU in 2017. Its mission is to regulate the gas and electricity markets, and gas, electrical and petroleum safety. The CRU does not regulate supplier prices. However, it is responsible for monitoring the Irish electricity and natural gas retail markets to ensure that competition continues to develop. Moreover, the CRU participates in regulation of the single electricity market (SEM) as part of the Single Electricity Market Committee (SEMC) (see below).

The Electricity Supply Board Networks (ESBN) is the state-owned electricity transmission asset owner responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of all the electricity transmission and subtransmission networks in Ireland. It is also the distribution asset owner and the distribution system operator, and funds all investment in the distribution system in Ireland. The ESBN is a ring-fenced subsidiary of the Electricity Supply Board group.

EirGrid is the state-owned electricity transmission system operator (TSO) and market operator. It is responsible for planning and developing the transmission system, scheduling and dispatching generation, operating the electricity market and ensuring system stability. It also plans development of the transmission network.

The SEMC is the decision-making authority for all SEM matters. It aims to protect the interests of consumers of electricity by promoting competition among persons engaged in, or in commercial activities connected with, the sale or purchase of electricity through the SEM. Its membership comprises the CRU, the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland and independent members.

The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is a state body under the aegis of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The main functions of NORA are to maintain Ireland’s 90 day strategic oil reserve, in line with the state’s stockholding obligations to the European Union and the IEA, and to administer the Biofuels Obligation Scheme.

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ENERGY INSIGHTS

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