One of the UK's largest utility firms, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), intends to enter the Irish electricity and gas markets from November.
SSE's Irish subsidiary yesterday submitted applications for an electricity supply licence and a gas supply and shipping licence, which will allow it to compete in the deregulated energy markets.
SSE will enter the electricity and gas markets, first concentrating on the industrial and commercial markets and then expanding into the domestic markets. The licences will be issued by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and will be owned, operated and managed by SSE Ireland, a subsidiary registered and based in Ireland.
A spokesman for SSE said it had no plans to apply for authorisation to construct a power plant and a licence to generate electricity. SSE owns a site in Louth.
The firm's move into the Irish market has been sparked by the advent of the single electricity market for the island of Ireland, which begins on November 1st.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, energy supply director at SSE, said the opening up of the Irish market would allow it to pursue investment opportunities in regulated and non-regulated businesses.
"Our intention is to become a significant new player in the Irish market. We will initially aim to sell a range of electricity and gas products, which may then be followed by renewable products, metering, telecoms and energy services," he said.
The company has a joint venture with ESB International to develop a new 840 megawatt power plant at Marchwood, near Southampton in the UK. SSE said this venture would not be affected by its entry into the market in Ireland.
