Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
273. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide more detail on the private wires element of Action 15, Enable Developer-led Infrastructure, within the Government’s new infrastructure plan, Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71511/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 3 December 2025, the Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. One of the 30 specific actions listed is Action 15 titled “Enable Developer-led Infrastructure”. Advancing regulations to enable private wire electricity connection in line with the Government's Private Wires Policy Statement is listed as a sub-action under Action 15.
Having received Government approval for the Private Wires Policy Statement in July this year, my Department has initiated the process of drafting the subsequent necessary Private Wires legislation. The Private Wires Policy Statement signals a significant reform of the rules that govern electricity infrastructure. It will unlock private sector investment in electricity infrastructure, particularly renewable generation and storage. Under the Private Wires Policy, it will be permissible for an electricity wire to be privately owned in 4 limited circumstances, namely to:
1. permit for a private wire to link a single user of electricity to a separate singular generation asset. This connection may also include storage technologies;
2. facilitate Hybrid connections;
3. allow on street charging of Electric Vehicles; and
4. allow a customer that self-supplies electricity to provide electricity to a separate customer in a contiguous premises.
Engagement with key stakeholders such as ESBN, the CRU, the Department of Transport and others has commenced and is ongoing. The General Scheme of the Private Wires Bill was approved by Government on 16 December.
