Electricity Connection Policy – Generation & System Services: Pre-engagement Process and High-level Technical Assessment Decision Paper The CRU has today, 6 June 2025, published a Decision on Electricity Connection Policy – Generation & System Service: Pre-engagement and High-Level Technical Assessment. This Decision Paper sets out the CRU’s decisions on the Pre-engagement and High-Level Technical Assessment (HLTA) process for the September 2025 batch whereby the following will apply: The requirement detailed within the ECP-GSS Decision (CRU/2024101) that Grid Applications for RED III projects must contain a valid HLTA is removed. Both RED III and non-RED III projects are required to submit a “Pre-application Notification” to the relevant SO by 30 June 2025. The Pre-application Notification will consist of an application form which will be published by the SOs on their websites by 16 June 2025. A non-refundable “Pre-application Notification deposit” of €7,000 or 50% of the Connection Offer Application Fee whichever is lower, is payable to the relevant SO on submission of Pre-application Notification. This deposit will be paid in the same manner as the Application Fee deposit under ECP-2 and applies to both RED III and non-RED III projects. For community-led projects, the non-refundable deposit will be €2,000. If a RED III project’s Grid Application has either not been submitted by the 30 September 2025 Batch Closing Deadline, or if it is submitted but the SO deems it not to be a valid application during the subsequent 45-calender day Batch Formation Process, then the overall RED III permit-granting procedure timelines will cease to apply If a RED III or non-RED III project’s Grid Application has either not been submitted by the 30 September 2025 Batch Closing Deadline, or if it is submitted but the SO deems it not to be a valid application during the subsequent 45-calender day Batch Formation Process, then the the project’s Pre-application Notification will lapse and the project would forfeit its Pre-application Notification deposit. The Pre-application Notification form will consist of a number of inputs, which are set out in the paper. These decisions will facilitate applications into to the September 2025 batch. In addition, the paper sets out a number of areas related to wider concerns raised within responses to the Proposed Decision (CRU/202558) which the CRU will consider in relation to post-September 2025 batches. Decisions set out in this paper will apply as per the scope detailed in Section 3.1 of the ECP-GSS Decision (CRU/2024101), i.e. onshore renewable and conventional generators, storage, and other system services technology projects to connect to the electricity system; they do not apply to interconnectors, demand connections, micro-generation, or offshore electricity connections. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Cover Note - ESBN Procurement Consultation ESBN Demand Flexibility Procurement Consultation The CRU has today, the 20th December 2023, published a Consultation Paper on the ESB Networks DAC (ESBN) Demand Flexibility Product Proposal alongside a CRU Cover Note. In this consultation, the CRU is seeking views on ESBN’s proposal for the procurement of a demand flexibility product for congestion management flexibility services on the distribution system, over durations of minimum 4 hours over peak demand hours. This procurement could entail up to 500 MW of flexibility services for the distribution system. In order to meet the flexibility targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) for 2025 and 2030, up to a total of 1GW of flexibility services may be needed on the distribution system by 2030. The consultation is open until 14 February 2024 and the consultation should be read jointly with the CRU Cover Note. It is intended to share all non-confidential responses to the consultation with ESBN prior to the CRU making a decision on the proposal set out in this consultation. If you do not wish your response to be shared with ESBN, please note this clearly when submitting the response. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Gas Network Stakeholder Engagement Evaluation Panel 2026 and 2027 The Price Control 5 (PC5) process determines the revenues GNI can collect from its customers. The PC5 Decision, published December 2023, introduced a framework including new incentives and reporting requirements to ensure GNI's flexibility and to incentivise behaviours in the interest of customers. The stakeholder engagement incentive under PC5 seeks to facilitate GNI's efficient and effective engagement with its stakeholders, with a focus on new large connections. GNI’s stakeholder engagement performance will be assessed by a panel, and the panel’s score will determine the incentive payment. CRU has published the Terms of Reference for the Gas Network Stakeholder Engagement Evaluation Panel 2026 and 2027. You can find previous consultation responses on our website here. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Security of Electricity Supply – Programme of Actions Security of Electricity Supply – Programme of Actions In response to concerns regarding Ireland’s security of electricity supply, as a result of the projected variance in generation capacity, a programme of actions was published by the CRU (CRU21115) setting out its approach to addressing the security of supply risks. As part of these actions, EirGrid has engaged with ESB, with a view to reaching an Agreement to temporarily retain three units at the Moneypoint Power Station in Co. Clare. These units currently operate at significant capacity, totalling 820MW. A Services Agreement (the Agreement) for the provision of capacity by Moneypoint on an out of market and temporary basis has been entered into by EirGrid and ESB in respect of the three Moneypoint units under the Targeted Contracting Mechanism and, having regard to Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941 – the Risk Preparedness Regulation. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Gas Prepayment Meter System Replacement Project: Decision on the High-Level Design The CRU has today, 10 June 2025, published its Decision Paper on the High-Level Design of Gas Pay-As-You-Go Meter System Replacement Project. The CRU received responses from relevant stakeholders to its Consultation Paper on the High-Level Design of Gas Pay-As-You-Go Meter System Replacement Project between December 2024 and February 2025, and evaluated these responses in arriving at this Decision Paper. The CRU envisages a more detailed consultation on specific aspects of the project later in 2025, ahead of the roll-out of the replacement meters in 2027. #J-18808-Ljbffr
ESB Networks Demand Flexibility Product Procurement ESBN Demand Flexibility Procurement Consultation The CRU has today, the 20th December 2023, published a Consultation Paper on the ESB Networks DAC (ESBN) Demand Flexibility Product Proposal alongside a CRU Cover Note. In this consultation, the CRU is seeking views on ESBN’s proposal for the procurement of a demand flexibility product for congestion management flexibility services on the distribution system, over durations of minimum 4 hours over peak demand hours. This procurement could entail up to 500 MW of flexibility services for the distribution system. In order to meet the flexibility targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) for 2025 and 2030, up to a total of 1GW of flexibility services may be needed on the distribution system by 2030. The consultation is open until 14 February 2024 and the consultation should be read jointly with the CRU Cover Note. It is intended to share all non-confidential responses to the consultation with ESBN prior to the CRU making a decision on the proposal set out in this consultation. If you do not wish your response to be shared with ESBN, please note this clearly when submitting the response. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Decision on Price Control 5 Regulatory Framework Implementation The CRU has published a decision paper and user guide relating to the implementation of the Price Control 5 (PC5) Regulatory Framework. Every five years, the CRU approves the revenues GNI can collect from its customers in a process called a price control. The PC5 Decision was published in December 2023 and included a suite of changes to the regulatory framework underpinning the price control, such as the introduction of new incentives and reporting requirements. The changes aimed to ensure that GNI has sufficient flexibility to adapt to the challenges of PC5 and to incentive behaviours which are in the interest of the customer. The decision stated that a transition period would be necessary before the changes are implemented to allow further engagement. Following consultation, the CRU has finalised its decision on how to implement those changes. A summary of responses to the consultation and an outline of the CRU’s decisions are presented in the Decision on Price Control 5 Regulatory Framework Implementation paper. A fully detailed explanation of how each aspect of the framework will be implemented is presented in the Price Control 5 Regulatory Framework User Guide. #J-18808-Ljbffr
