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The Commission for Energy Regulation-An Coimisiún um Rialáil Fuinnimh (CER) is Ireland's independent energy regulator. The CER has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in energy. At a high-level, the CER's overall mission, 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 • energy is supplied safely. The aim of the CER’s economic role is to protect the interests of energy customers, maintain security of supply, and to promote competition covering the generation and supply of electricity and supply of natural gas. As part of its role,the CER jointly regulates the all-island wholesale Single Electricity Market (SEM) with its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Utility Regulator. The SEM is governed by a decision-making body known as the SEM Committee, consisting of the CER, the Utility Regulator and an independent member The CER has an important related function in customer protection by resolving complaints that customers have with energy companies. In energy safety, the core focus of the CER is to protect lives and property across a range of areas in the energy sector. This includes safety regulation of electrical contractors, gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) installers and gas pipelines. In addition the CER is the safety regulator of upstream petroleum safety extraction and exploration activities, including off-shore gas and oil. The CER is the economic regulator of the Irish public water and wastewater sector. This was anticipated to commence formally towards the end of 2013. ==Electricity Regulation== Generation The CER licenses and monitors electricity generators. Please see information on the wholesale/generation Single Electricity Market (SEM) in the next section. Transmission Network Generally the high voltage lines deliver electricity from Ireland's generation sources to the transformer stations, where the electricity voltage is reduced and taken onwards through the distribution system to individual customers' premises. There are also about 18 very large commercial customers directly connected to the transmission system. EirGrid is the independent state-owned body licensed by the CER to act as transmission system operator (TSO) and is responsible for the operation, development and maintenance of the system. The TSO also offers terms and levies charges to market participants for the connection to and use of the transmission system, which are regulated by the CER. ESB Networks is licensed by the CER as the owner of the transmission system and is responsible for carrying out the maintenance and construction of the system. The CER sets the allowed revenue/tariffs for the transmission business and approves the connection policy for generators and suppliers connecting to and/or using the network. Distribution Network The Distribution Network is the medium and low voltage electricity network used to deliver electricity to connection points such as houses, offices, shops, and street lights. The Distribution Network includes all overhead electricity lines, poles and underground cables used to bring power to Ireland’s customers. ESB Networks (a ring fenced subsidiary within the ESB Group) is the Distribution System Operator licensed by the CER, responsible for the building, maintaining and operating the distribution network infrastructure. The Distribution Network is owned by ESB, the licensed Distribution Asset Owner. The CER sets the allowed revenue/tariffs for the distribution business and approves the connection policy for generators and suppliers connecting to and/or using the network. Supply The CER licenses and monitors electricity suppliers. The CER has overseen the gradual liberalisation of the electricity supply market which culminated in full market opening in February 2005. The regulatory framework created the right environment for competition to develop and since then competition has increased in the business and domestic markets. As a result, in 2010 the CER published its Roadmap to Deregulation, which set out the milestones for the end of price regulation. All business markets were deregulated from 1 October 2010. Since April 2011 the domestic market has been deregulated, so all electricity suppliers may set their own tariffs without price regulation from the CER. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Commission for Energy Regulation」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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