Energy Policy Committee
Energy Policy Committee:
Chair: Frank Gleeson, Aramark
Vice-Chair: John Reilly, Bord na Móna
Why do we have the committee and what are the primary goals/areas of focus?
A competitive business environment is dependent upon secure, affordable and sustainable sources of energy supply. European Union legislative developments will dramatically alter the energy landscape and impose stringent climate and energy targets. The Energy Policy Committee (EPC) provides a forum to discuss policy and regulatory proposals, and works to ensure that the national response to our EU mandated obligations is balanced with a competitive business environment. We facilitate members to network, share information and find common policy approaches to energy and climate policy. In turn, we represent the views of our member to policy makers, government and regulators.
Who typically attends the committee?
The EPC represents a broad cross section of Irish enterprises, indigenous and multinational, that are affected by energy policy, regulation and legislation at national, EU and international level. This includes representatives from the entire energy industry chain including generators, suppliers, network operators, service providers and large energy consumers.
How often does the committee meet?
The Committee meets on a quarterly basis.
Are there any working groups associated with the committee?
Four Working Groups report into the EPC, covering climate policy, energy efficiency, energy providers and large energy users. The European Union Energy Policy Taskforce will track the development of the Energy Union and assess the impact of the legislative proposal on a small, relatively isolated island market.
Some of the key areas of focus for 2017 include:
- Allocation of post-2020 national Member State targets in the non-traded sectors (agriculture, built environment, transport and waste)
- Review of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme post-2020
- The passage of the LULUCF Regulation
- The EU Winter Package - Clean Energy For All European
- The National Mitigation Plan
- The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEAP)review
- The re-design of the all-island electricity market
- A new National Heat Strategy
ˇ- The policy framework for District heating
- The decarbonisation of transport
- The Renewable Heat Incentive Consultation
- The review of the Wind Planning Guidelines
ˇ Grid development
- The PSO levy allocation methodology
- The National Planning Framework-
- The energy and climate implications of Brexit