Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
46. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of housing units/estates that are currently awaiting connection to the grid; the average wait times for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73059/25]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not I as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The management of, and matters related to, domestic connections to the electricity grid are operational matters for ESB Networks, under rules determined by the CRU. ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their functions as network operators.
The energisation of new connections is a clearly defined process for developers, involving deliverables (e.g. ducting, certification) on the developer side as well design works on ESB Networks’ side. ESB Networks are advising developers to give as much notice of their requirements as possible, and to have a connection agreement in place prior to starting a new development. Over the last four years, ESB Networks has connected over 147,000 homes and businesses to the distribution network.
I as Minister do not hold the information sought in this question and in this instance the Deputy may wish to engage directly with ESB Networks. ESB Networks and the CRU have respective contact email addresses for Deputies should they wish to raise matters of concern (oireachtas@esb.ie, oireachtas@cru.ie).
