CRU

  • Low carbon generation

    PSO Levy 2022/23: RESS to the Rescue

    This week we look at how renewable generation is putting money back in consumers’ pockets - a trend which, based on the power price forecast from our All-Island Forward Curve report, is expected to continue until 2027. Last week the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published their final decision...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    CRU implements COVID-19 supply suspension scheme

    On 1 May, the CRU set out the details of its decision to implement a temporary supply suspension scheme for eligible SME electricity and gas customers due to the impact of the pandemic. It said that the unique and extraordinary circumstances of the current situation require a modification to the current approach...

  • Regulation and policy

    Getting RESStless: ECP-2 proposed decision

    The process of applying for grid connections in Ireland has changed under the ECP process, allowing policymakers to prioritise certain projects. The first stage, ECP-1 occurred in 2018 and now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) have published the Enduring Connection Policy Stage 2, or ECP-2 proposed decision. This week...

  • Home supply and services

    Not mushroom for competitive prices: Switching behaviours in the SEM

    The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published its August 2019 Customer Switching Report for the Electricity and Gas Retail Markets on 24 September. In this edition of the blog, we compare monthly switching trends with CRU’s quarterly Electricity and Gas Retail Markets Report to explore whether fluctuations in...

  • Home supply and services

    The end of the beginning: Domestic market share

    With switching rates relatively low (3% for electricity in Q318) and incumbent players still comfortably dominating the markets, you could be forgiven for thinking little is set to change in the Irish domestic supply markets. But we believe a closer look at the regulator’s latest market share figures, with an...

  • Low carbon generation

    There is a light that never goes out: T-4 CRM qualification

    On 8 March the summary qualification results for the upcoming 2022/23 T-4 capacity auction were released, breaking down those qualified to bid by technology type. As previously noted, this auction is an important one as it will give an indication of the new capacity seeking to connect to the Irish...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Local hero: constraints and security of supply

    Security of supply is back on the agenda. Last week saw the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) publish its Electricity Security of Supply Report 2018. Replicating the analysis from the long-awaited All-Island Generation Capacity Statement 2018-2027 (GCS), it showed Ireland facing potential deficits within the next 6-9 years. The very same...

  • Low carbon generation

    Relight my fire: liquidity in the Irish PPA market

    Previously we explored how the Irish Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market is evolving in response to the I-SEM. We have extensively researched this market to understand PPA pricing, competition and contract structuring. This culminated in the release of our inaugural Irish PPA market report in July. However, overall market share...

  • Low carbon generation

    Fight the power: CRU, Huntstown and the Appeal Panel

    Lemme hear you say The indirect impacts of last year’s capacity auction continue to come. An Appeal Panel has determined that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) erred in seeking to enforce a decision on licence changes relating to Huntstown power station. If implemented, they found that the...

  • Low carbon generation

    Don’t let me down: I-SEM interconnector hedging

    Interconnection is important for Ireland and Northern Ireland’s security of supply; Eirgrid’s most recently published Generation Capacity Statement showed capacity deficits by 2021 without the subsea connections between GB and the island of Ireland. Last week, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) launched a consultation on Element Power’s...

  • Low carbon generation

    Crossing the streams – how much do wholesale prices impact Irish interconnector flows?

    The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is considering whether the proposed Greenlink interconnector is in the public interest and, if so, what regulatory regime should underwrite, or partially underwrite it. The CRU expects a subsequent application from the Celtic Interconnector also. This week’s blog examines how much the difference in wholesale...

  • Power and gas networks

    Sunblock: Solar & Irish connection policy

    The forthcoming decision of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) on stage 1 of its Enduring Connection Policy (ECP-1) will shape the future Irish generation portfolio. The draft ECP-1 document, published in November 2017, sets out how the CRU proposes to allocate electricity connections following Gate 3 – an...

  • Low carbon generation

    CRM auction: age isn’t everything

    Media reports in Ireland and Northern Ireland are raising concerns over the possibility of power plant closures. The threatened shutdowns arise due to the outcome of the T-1 Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) auction. The closures may commence as early as May 2018 if the coverage is to be believed. How...