What Are Private Wires?
A "private wire" (or "direct line") is an electricity connection built between two private parties — for example, a solar farm supplying power directly to a neighbouring factory, or a rooftop PV system feeding several tenants in a shopping centre — without going through the public grid.
In most European countries this is already normal. In Ireland, however, current legislation (Section 37 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999) requires ESB Networks to refuse a grid connection on the grounds of capacity before the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is even allowed to consider approving a direct line. In practice, applications are queued rather than refused, so direct lines almost never get authorised.
Two Competing Bills
There are currently two pieces of legislation in play:
✅ The Heneghan Private Members' Bill
Introduced to the Dáil by Barry Heneghan TD (Dublin Bay North). A clean, simple bill that removes the Section 37 blocker and gives the CRU the power to regulate private wires in a transparent, non-discriminatory way — as intended by EU Directive 2019/944.
⚠️ The Government Scheme
Attempts to legislate what should be regulated. Following public consultation it has attracted 47 change recommendations. It restricts private wires to 4 "limited circumstances" — which may itself fall foul of the EU Directive's requirement that criteria be "objective and non-discriminatory."
Why This Matters
To meet new demand from transport, heating and industrial electrification, Ireland's grid must expand faster than it can traditionally be built out. Private Wires are a critical part of the solution. They will:
- Reduce average energy costs
- Unlock thousands of new small renewable projects
- Speed up housing completions where grid delays exist
- Enable factory expansions and industrial growth
- Offset Irish fossil fuel imports (estimated €3 billion / year)
- Improve security of supply — both political and physical (recall Storm Éowyn)
Where We Are in the Process
The Heneghan Bill has been formally introduced to the Dáil. Its Second Stage reading is the debate on the general principles of the bill — at the end of which TDs vote on whether to allow it to proceed to committee stage. Then it goes for detailed scrutiny, a final vote, and (hopefully) into law. The realistic timeline is around six months.