Private Wires Bill 2025 – General Scheme and Regulatory Impact Analysis

In accordance with the policy decision set out in the Private Wires Policy Statement, Government has approved the General Scheme for a Private Wires Bill and the decision to commence drafting of the Bill. The Private Wires General Scheme sets out the legislative amendments to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 as amended to allow for private ownership of electricity wires in limited circumstances where public benefits to allowing such developments are clear. Private wires must comply with the guiding principles of the policy statement and may only be allowed in four discrete circumstances:

• A direct connection between a generator, for example a wind farm or solar farm, and an electricity customer, perhaps a factory that wants to decarbonise;
• A wind farm or solar farm owned by one company will be able to share a grid connection with another generator or a battery installation owned by another firm;
• Private lines will be allowed where they are the solution to allow on street charging of electric vehicles; and
• To allow a firm that self-supplies electricity to provide electricity to neighbouring customer where the line does not have to cross land owned by a third party.

The General Scheme sets out the broad legislative framework for private wires including a licencing regime, the requirement for safety and technical standards, and the permissible circumstances under which private wires can be used. The General Scheme also provides for increased regulatory oversight of internal collector cable systems for electricity projects such as wind and solar farms.

The General Scheme and associated Regulatory Impact Analysis are published below. The General Scheme will be the basis of the Private Wires Bill to be drafted in 2026 which will be brought to Government before being published and subsequently introduced in the Oireachtas.