Wind energy and consumers

Sir, – Your editorial points out that the “low cost of wind energy is not passed on to consumers” (“The Irish Times view on wind energy: benefits must flow to consumers”, November 20th). The marginal pricing system, which allows power supply companies charge the same rate for fossil fuel and renewable energy, was designed to encourages electricity suppliers to increase their renewable supply, which is of course considerably cheaper to produce.

Maybe it is time to show real costs in customers’ bills. With high electricity costs, most of us are very aware of how much we pay per kw/h.

If each bill had one rate for fossil-fuel energy, and one rate for renewable energy, applied on the basis of the monthly percentage production of each, positive public engagement in the roll-out of renewable projects would be greatly improved. – Yours, etc,

TRINA MILNER,