The CER was initially established as the Commission for Electricity Regulation under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. The functions of the CER along with its name were changed by the Gas (Interim Regulation) Act, 2002. Under that Act, our remit was expanded to include the regulation of the natural gas sector and our name was changed to the Commission for Energy Regulation.
As well as these founding pieces of legislation, the functions and duties of the CER have been altered and expanded significantly by legislation transposing EU directives into Irish law and the introduction of new primary legislation, including the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act 2007 and the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2010.
Among other matters, these new pieces of legislation have given the CER powers in relation to the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) and they have also given the organisation safety-related responsibilities in the energy sector.
The text of all relevant European Energy Legislation can be found at the European Commission DG websites:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/gas_electricity/legislation/legislation_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/electricity/electricity_en.htm
It should be noted that the official version of Acts of the Oireachtas and Secondary legislation is the version published in hard copy by the Stationery Office and available from the Government Publications Sales Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, or by mail order from Gvernment Publications, Postal trade Section, 4-5 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2; or for viewing and download from the following websites: www.irishstatutebook.ie or www.oireachtas.ie. The official translation of the Acts into Irish is also published on www.oireachtas.ie when available.