Energy Law and Electricity Regulation

The European Union's electricity market design provisions have been transposed into Irish law through new regulations addressing flexible connection agreements and grid information requirements. These changes aim to streamline grid connections in capacity-constrained areas while establishing transparency standards for distribution system operators and system users.

Ireland's Commission for Regulation of Utilities is consulting on Grid Code modification MPID 345, which would impose new fault ride-through requirements on transmission-connected demand facilities, particularly data centres. The proposed compliance and derogation framework includes usage caps and curtailment procedures that could significantly impact customer operations and contractual entitlements under connection agreements.

The Private Wires Bill 2025 - only the General Scheme of the Bill has been published to date. This was submitted to the Joint Committee for review.

European energy regulators and agencies have released new guidance and reports covering customer switching procedures, grid connection requirements, gas market decarbonisation strategies, and emissions trading system reforms. Key developments include amendments to security of supply regulations, tripartite agreements for energy storage capacity, and updated reporting requirements under the Governance Regulation for member states' national energy and climate plans.

The European Union's electricity market design provisions have been transposed into Irish law through new regulations addressing flexible connection agreements and grid information requirements. These changes aim to streamline grid connections in capacity-constrained areas while establishing transparency standards for distribution system operators and system users.

Ireland's Commission for Regulation of Utilities is consulting on Grid Code modification MPID 345, which would impose new fault ride-through requirements on transmission-connected demand facilities, particularly data centres. The proposed compliance and derogation framework includes usage caps and curtailment procedures that could significantly impact customer operations and contractual entitlements under connection agreements.

European energy regulators and agencies have released new guidance and reports covering customer switching procedures, grid connection requirements, gas market decarbonisation strategies, and emissions trading system reforms. Key developments include amendments to security of supply regulations, tripartite agreements for energy storage capacity, and updated reporting requirements under the Governance Regulation for member states' national energy and climate plans.

The European Commission updated its State aid review timetable (PDF 440 KB), confirming that work is ongoing on revisions to key State aid instruments, including the General Block Exemption Regulation, the State Aid Guarantee Notice, the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, the ETS State aid guidelines and the aviation State aid framework.

Ireland's Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 proposes significant reforms to the country's direct lines framework, removing restrictive barriers that have prevented private wire infrastructure development. The Bill would eliminate the grid-refusal precondition and establish new permitting criteria under the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, potentially unlocking opportunities for renewable energy deployment and alternative electricity supply arrangements.

European energy regulators and agencies have released new guidance and reports covering customer switching procedures, grid connection requirements, gas market decarbonisation strategies, and emissions trading system reforms. Key developments include amendments to security of supply regulations, tripartite agreements for energy storage capacity, and updated reporting requirements under the Governance Regulation for member states' national energy and climate plans.

The European Commission updated its State aid review timetable (PDF 440 KB), confirming that work is ongoing on revisions to key State aid instruments, including the General Block Exemption Regulation, the State Aid Guarantee Notice, the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, the ETS State aid guidelines and the aviation State aid framework.

Ireland's life sciences sector is experiencing significant growth, driving demand for specialized real estate and infrastructure. As the country prepares for its EU Presidency in H2 2026, energy policy reforms...