The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU, ga, An Coimisiúin um Rialáil Fóntais), formerly known as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER, ga, An Coimisiún um Rialáil Fuinnimh), is the
Republic of Ireland
Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...
's
energy
In physics, energy (from Ancient Greek: ἐνέργεια, ''enérgeia'', “activity”) is the quantitative property that is transferred to a body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of work and in the form of heat a ...
and water economic utility regulator.
Electricity regulation
The CRU licenses and monitors
electricity generators.
On the
transmission network
Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines that facilitate this movement form a ''transmission network''. This is ...
, generally, the
high voltage lines deliver electricity from Ireland's generation sources to the
transformer stations, where the electricity voltage is reduced and taken onwards through the
distribution system to individual customers' premises. There are also about 18 very large commercial customers directly connected to the transmission system.
EirGrid
EirGrid plc is the state-owned electric power transmission operator in Ireland. It is a public limited company registered under the Companies Acts; its shares are held by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. It is one of ...
is the independent state-owned body licensed by the CRU to act as
transmission system operator
File:Electricity grid simple- North America.svg, 380px, Simplified diagram of AC electricity grid from generation stations to consumers
rect 2 243 235 438 Power station
rect 276 317 412 556 Transformer
rect 412 121 781 400 Electric power transmis ...
(TSO) and is responsible for the operation, development, and maintenance. The TSO also offers terms and levies charged to market participants to connect to and use the transmission system regulated by the CRU.
ESB Networks is licensed by the CRU as the owner of the transmission system and is responsible for carrying out the maintenance and construction of the system.
The CRU sets the allowed revenue/tariffs for the transmission business and approves the connection policy for generators and suppliers connecting to and/or using the network.
The Distribution Network is the medium and low voltage
electricity network
An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids vary in size and can cover whole countries or continents. It consists of:Kaplan, S. M. (2009). Smart Grid. Electrical Power ...
used to deliver electricity to connection points such as houses, offices, shops, and street lights. The Distribution Network includes all overhead electricity lines, poles, and
underground cables used to bring power to Ireland's customers.
ESB Networks (a ring-fenced subsidiary within the ESB Group) is the Distribution System Operator licensed by the CRU, responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the distribution network infrastructure. The Distribution Network is owned by ESB, the licensed Distribution Asset Owner.
The CER sets the allowed revenue/tariffs for the distribution business and approves the connection policy for generators and suppliers connecting to and/or using the network.
Supply
The CRU licenses and monitors electricity suppliers. The CRU has overseen the gradual liberalization of the electricity supply market, culminating in a full market opening in February 2005. The
regulatory
Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context. For ...
framework created the right environment for competition to develop, and since then, competition has increased in the business and domestic markets. As a result, in 2010, the CRU published its ''Roadmap to Deregulation'', which set out the end price regulation milestones. All business markets were deregulated from 1 October 2010. Since April 2011, the domestic market has been deregulated so that all electricity suppliers may set their tariffs without price regulation from the CRU.
Single Electricity Market
Since 1 November 2007, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, (known then as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)) and Utility Regulator, together referred to as the Regulatory Authorities or RAs, have jointly regulated the all-Island wholesale electricity market known as the
Single Electricity Market
The electricity sectors of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are integrated and supply 2.5 million customers from a combination of coal, peat, natural gas, wind and hydropower. In 2018 natural gas produced 51.8%, while wind turbines gene ...
(SEM). The SEM covers both
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
and the Republic of Ireland.
The decision-making body that governs the market is the SEM Committee, consisting of the CRU, the Utility Regulator, as well as an independent member (who also has a deputy), with each entity having one vote.
The detailed rules of the SEM are set out in the Trading and Settlement Code, which is overseen by the SEM Committee.
At a high level, the SEM includes a centralized gross pool (or spot) market, which, given its mandatory nature for key generators and suppliers, is fully liquid. In this pool, electricity is bought and sold through a market-clearing mechanism. Generators bid in the Short Run Marginal Cost (SRMC) and receive the System Marginal Price (SMP) for each trading period their scheduled market quantities. Generators also receive separate payments for the provision of available generation capacity through a capacity payment mechanism and constraint payments for differences between the market schedule and the system dispatch. Suppliers purchasing energy from the pool pay the SMP for each trading period along with capacity costs and system charges.
Natural gas
There are two types of
gas pipelines operating around the country. The larger pipes that transport gas long distances are known as transmission pipes, and the smaller pipes which bring gas from the transmission pipes to individual premises are known as distribution pipes.
Ervia
Ervia, previously known as Bord Gáis or Bord Gáis Éireann (; meaning "Gas Board of Ireland"), is a multi-utility company distributing pipeline natural gas, water services and dark fibre services in Ireland. The state-owned company has built a ...
, formerly Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE), owns the transmission and distribution systems in the Republic of Ireland.
Bord Gáis Networks (BGN) is the designated subsidiary within Ervia which constructs and extends the
natural gas
Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
network in Ireland to the required safety standards. Gaslink is currently the TSO and DSO for gas.
The CRU sets the allowed revenue/tariffs and connection policy for the gas transmission and distribution network (similar to electricity). It licenses and monitors gas suppliers. Since 1 July 2007, Ireland's retail gas market has been open to competition, and all gas customers are eligible to switch their gas suppliers. This represents over half a million domestic customers. It continues to regulate the revenue earned and tariffs charged by
Bord Gáis
Cucerdea ( hu, Oláhkocsárd, Hungarian pronunciation: ) is a commune in Mureș County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Bord (''Bord''), Cucerdea, and Șeulia de Mureș (''Oláhsályi'').
The commune is located in the sout ...
Energy Supply to domestic customers and works to resolve complaints that customers have with energy companies.
Water regulation
The CRU is the independent economic regulator for public water and
wastewater
Wastewater is water generated after the use of freshwater, raw water, drinking water or saline water in a variety of deliberate applications or processes. Another definition of wastewater is "Used water from any combination of domestic, industr ...
services in Ireland. In the consultation process leading up to the introduction of water charges in
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, the CRU has proposed that
Irish Water
''Uisce Éireann'', formerly and commonly known as Irish Water, is a state-owned water utility company in Ireland. It was created by the Irish Government through the Water Services Act 2013, which formally created the company as a subsidiary of ...
provide two products and one service, with each household receiving a maximum of one product (either "Water" or "Not for Human Consumption Water") at a time. It is proposed that the wastewater service be charged per unit product consumed.
See also
*
Energy law
Energy laws govern the use and taxation of energy, both renewable energy, renewable and non-renewable energy, non-renewable. These laws are the primary authority, primary authorities (such as caselaw, statutes, rules, regulations and edicts) re ...
*
World Forum on Energy Regulation
The World Forum on Energy Regulation (WFER) is the leading international conference on energy regulation, held once every three years.
WFER IV is hosted by the Council of European Energy Regulators CEER and the Greek Regulator. WFER IV will be ...
References
External links
Commission for Regulation of UtilitiesEnergy Customers Information website (Gas & Electricity Supply Providers-Residential & Business)EirGrid operates the electricity transmission systemESB Networks operates the electricity distribution systemGaslink operates the gas transmission and distribution systemThe All-Island Project for the Island of Ireland for Energy Regulation The All Island Project is a joint initiative run by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) & the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (Utility Regulator).
{{authority control
Energy in the Republic of Ireland
Government agencies of the Republic of Ireland
Natural gas safety
Energy regulatory authorities
Regulation in Ireland