The CER was assigned responsibility over the regulation of the Irish electricity market following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. This involved the liberalisation of the market in order to encourage the entry of competition and new investment. Market rules were established for both a wholesale electricity market and a retail electricity market, while licensing processes and procedures were introduced for all market participants. With regard to the electricity networks (the high voltage transmission network and the lower voltage distribution network), the CER put in place regulatory mechanisms to ensure that significant and sufficient investment took place to support the needs of a growing economy.
The electricity sector has continued to develop under the regulatory guidance of the CER. The retail electricity market opened fully to competition on 19 February 2005 and independent companies now supply almost half of electricity consumed (by volume) in Ireland. Furthermore in 2007, the wholesale electricity market will move from the current transitional market to the new Single Electricity Market (SEM) for the island of Ireland.
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 European single electricity market that best meets the needs of Europe’s energy consumers.
This section of our website outlines background, regulatory policy, consultations and decisions in the key areas of the electricity market in Ireland. Further information on the development of the SEM can be found at the website of the all island project (www.allislandproject.org).