The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is being criticised following the failure of energy firms to pass on the positive effect of falling oil, coal and wholesale gas prices.

Fianna Fáil Energy Spokesperson, Michael Moynihan TD, has called for a fundamental review of the role and powers of the CER and said the savings need to be passed on to electricity and gas customers.

Deputy Moynihan said: "In my view it raises the fundamental question of whether our Energy Regulation regime is any longer fit for purpose. If the Regulator's only function is to preside over price increases and then just shrug when the price of oil collapses and utilities maintain record high prices, something is radically wrong and has to change.

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"Fianna Fáil is calling for a fundamental review of the role and powers of the Commission for energy Regulation. This body is entrusted with the role of safeguarding the interests of the utilities' customers and in our view it is failing in this role. The situation where energy utility prices can only go up and we are powerless to effect any sort of benefit when oil prices go down, needs to be addressed.

"One option that should be considered for example in the short term is much more onerous requirements on energy companies to inform customers when their time on promotional rates ends and the price increase represented by their move to standard tariffs."

(CD/JP)