We built this city: new registrations, a segment emerges

Valentine’s Day saw the publication of the Irish quarterly retail market report by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which noted 11 price increases over the course of 2018. It is an opportune time to consider a potential source of future competition: new residential dwellings.

This week’s blog looks at the rate of new house completions in Ireland and the likely implications for domestic switching rates in the retail market. As the chart illustrates, since the start of 2017 an average of about 850 homes are registered for the first time every month, according to figures compiled by ESB Networks. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government use the ESB new registrations figures as a metric for the number of new houses being built.

Related thinking

Commercial and market outlook

ESB charts direction for changes to the NEM

The below extract has been taken from our eighth edition of ‘Energy Spectrum Australia’, and if you would like to read more about the latest developments in the Australian energy market, please contact enquiries@cornwall-insight.com.au for a free trial of our ‘Energy Spectrum Australia’ service. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has provided an...

Energy storage and flexibility

All mod cons: Routes to market for household flexibility

According to National Grid’s 2019 Future Energy Scenarios[1], meeting decarbonisation targets could require deployment in GB of 13GW of flexibility from commercial and industrial consumers by 2050, compared to around 1GW currently available. While there are currently no comparable forecasts for domestic demand-side response (DSR), energy suppliers and technology companies...

Regulation and policy

Back to the Future: long term vulnerability outcomes

100 days have passed since the UK was placed into lockdown and, as the government looks to continue easing of restrictions, it’s worth reflecting on where we’ve been and start looking ahead to where we’re going. Thanks to papers from Citizens Advice and National Energy Action (NEA) we now have...

Heat networks

Editor’s Pick | Regen assesses decarbonised heat market stimuli and pathways

Regen, in association with Wales and West Utilities, has published a research paper exploring the challenge of decarbonising heat in the UK. The Decarbonisation of Heat paper was published on 9 March. Problem In comparison to other European markets, the UK is still highly dependent on natural gas to provide heat...

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...

E-mobility and low carbon

ESB charge points: Mo money mo problems

ESB announced this week that charging your car at its public fast charge points will now be a paid-for service. Although the fee for fast charging has always been anticipated, the timing is interesting considering the government’s intention to have 1mn EVs on the road by 2030 and the historically...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | Is ESB’s market dominance still a concern?

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It doesn’t take too long venturing into the Irish energy sector before one encounters this company. Founded in 1927, the former monopoly provider was responsible for rural electrification in 1946. ESB group companies own the network and participate in generation and supply markets. In the...

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...