Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte, today announced that 9 energy companies have signed Voluntary Agreements with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to deliver energy savings to consumers.
The Minister has approved the finalisation of Voluntary Agreements between the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and 9 energy suppliers, who have agreed to meet energy savings targets. The Government has committed to reaching energy efficiency savings of 20% by 2020, and energy suppliers will play a key role in meeting this goal.
Minister Rabbitte noted that “Energy efficiency has the potential to deliver huge financial benefits to domestic and commercial customers, and it is encouraging to see energy suppliers become so deeply involved in this process.”
Over 200,000 homes have been upgraded with energy efficiency measures to date, through the SEAI’s Better Energy: Homes and Better Energy: Warmer Homes programmes. Energy suppliers will also be offering energy efficiency upgrades to their customers
Prof. J. Owen Lewis, Chief Executive, SEAI commented: “We are delighted to have reached this point where energy saving agreements are now in place between the key energy suppliers and SEAI. This represents a great opportunity for employment and energy saving, and I’d like to thank all of the energy partners for their efforts so far.”
The Minister added “Today marks the beginning of a new model for service to consumers, with energy suppliers supporting consumers in entirely new and different ways. Since I launched Better Energy in May last year, I have been pleased to note the increasing activity by energy suppliers in offering energy services to their customers.”
Further information on the Better Energy programmes is available on the SEAI website:
www.seai.ie/BetterEnergyHomesNote for Editors:
Ireland’s first National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) was published in May 2009 and sets out 90 actions that we are already taking or will take in the period to 2020 to achieve 20% energy efficiency savings across the public, business, residential, transport, and energy supply sectors. The savings identified in the first Action Plan represent approximately €1.6 billion in annual energy cost reductions for the economy in 2020 and will reduce our CO2 emissions by approximately 5.7 million tonnes per annum. Achievement of the full target will provide further benefits.
The companies signing up today are:
Airtricity
Arigna Fuels
Bord Gais Éireann
Bord na Móna Fuels Limited
Calor
Electric Ireland
Energia
Stafford Fuels
Vayu