The Commission for Energy Regulation ("CER") is the regulator for the electricity and natural gas sectors in Ireland.
Our Mission is as follows:
In a world where energy supply and prices are highly volatile, the mission of the CER, acting in the interests of consumers is to ensure that:
- the lights stay on,
- the gas continues to flow,
- the prices charged are fair and reasonable,
- the environment is protected, and
- electricity and gas are supplied safely
The CER was first set up in 1999 and our role and functions have been expanded over time. We work within the framework of national and EU energy policy which aim to create a single European electricity market that best meets the needs of Europe’s energy consumers.
On the island of Ireland, Government ministers in the north and south have committed to creating an all-island energy market. On 1 November 2007, the new cross-border wholesale electricity market, the SEM (Single Electricity Market) went live. The market was designed and implemented by the CER and NIAUR (Northern Ireland Regulator) in cooperation with the system operators and market participants north and south. The SEM and further all-island energy market developments are a key means of achieving our goal of a sustainable and reliable supply of electricity and natural gas at reasonable cost to Irish energy customers.
We promote competition in the electricity and natural gas sectors so that customers can ultimately benefit from competitive pressures on prices and services. At the same time we protect the interests of final customers especially the disadvantaged and the elderly by ensuring that standards of services are set and codes of practices are in place to protect vulnerable users.
We licence electricity and natural gas companies on a fair and equitable basis and set performance standards which we enforce. We regulate downstream natural gas undertakings and upstream petroleum activities with respect to safety. We regulate the activities of natural gas and LPG installers and electrical contractors with respect to safety.
All the time, we continue to work to ensure that the supply of natural gas and electricity to customers is safe, secure and reliable and a quality service is provided by all market participants.