S.I. No. 632/2003 - Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Eligible Customer) (Consumption of Electricity) Order 2003

I, Dermot Ahern, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 27 (3) and (5) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (No. 23 of 1999) and the Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 300 of 2002 ) (as adapted by the Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 307 of 2002 )), hereby make the following order with respect to which, pursuant to section 27(6) of that Act, a draft has been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House:

1.        This Order may be cited as the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Eligible Customer)(Consumption of Electricity) Order 2003.

2.        In section 27 (2) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (No. 23 of 1999) reference to the figure of 1 Giga Watt hour (varied by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Eligible Customer) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 3 of 2002 )) is varied -

(a)        with effect from 19 February 2004, to be read as a reference to the figure of 0.1 Giga Watt hour, and

(b)        with effect from 19 February 2005, to be read as a reference to the figure of 0.1 kilowatt hour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

This Order varies the consumption threshold for eligible electricity customers in Section 27 (2) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (as varied by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Eligible Customer) Order 2002). By varying the eligibility threshold from “1 Giga Watt hour” to “0.1 Giga Watt hour”, it provides for an increase in the level of electricity market opening to approximately 56% with effect from 19 February 2004.

By further varying the eligibility threshold from “0.1 Giga Watt hour” to “0.1 kilowatt hour” with effect from 19 February 2005 it provides, to all intents and purposes, for 100% electricity market opening.