RYAN DISAPPOINTS ON ELECTIC CAR & SMART METER ROLLOUT
24 Jul 2009
Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan T.D. has described current plans for the rollout of the electric car and electricity smart meters programme as very disappointing.
Deputy Broughan said, "Ministers Ryan and Dempsey announced their electric cars initiative in 2008 with a target of 10% of all cars to be powered by electricity by 2020. However, the development of the programme is progressing at a snail’s pace. Minister Ryan recently told me that it may now take up to 18 months before the roll out of the initial infrastructure necessary to support a fleet of electric cars is complete. This is despite the recent agreement of a contract for electric vehicle infrastructure with Renault-Nissan.
"Minister Ryan and his colleagues rightly talk about the potential of the green economy and the need to greatly enhance sustainable transport in Ireland. Why then is the Minister so slow at progressing this critical programme?
"The timeframe for the smart meter rollout is equally disappointing. Minister Ryan argues that developing a nationwide smart meter programme is complex. However, it appears that the pilot phases and testing will drag on for years. The pilot phase for the electricity element of the smart meter trial won’t be finished until the "end of December 2010". Other elements of the pilot phase including the Gas Customer Behaviour Trial won’t finish until May 2011.
"Minister Ryan also noted in a Parliamentary Question that the cost benefit analysis that is being undertaken as part of the pilot phase "will inform the decision as regards the timing of a national roll out. " Yet, "the final analysis to include the results of the gas trials" won’t be completed until at least "mid 2011." It is astonishing that it will take at least untill 2011 to complete this cost benefit analysis and to make any firm decision on how the long promised national smart meter programme will then proceed. It looks increasingly likely that major initiatives to roll out electricity and other household energy meters and electric vehicles will have to wait for the next Irish government." |