CER spent €5m on consultants’ fees

THE government watchdog for the gas and electricity sectors spent nearly €5 million on consultants’ fees last year.

The Commission for Energy Regulation’s (CER) annual report for 2003 reveals spending on “professional and consultancy fees” rose from €2.7m in 2002 to €4.85m last year. This includes €2.7m spent on the electricity market and €2.06m on the gas market.

The accounts reveal that the regulator’s office had a total income of €9.5m, an increase of nearly €1.5m. The electricity sector contributed €5.1m, with gas adding €3.1m.