Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
279. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to review the current policy and regulatory framework pertaining to direct wire in order to support the deployment of distributed generation. [50866/21]
View answerThe Electricity Regulation Act,1999, as amended, sets out the current legislative framework for Direct Lines. Specifically, Section 37 of the 1999 Act provides that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) may grant permission to construct a direct line not connected to the transmission system or distribution system but only where an application to connect and use the transmission or distribution system has been refused on the grounds of lack of capacity. Section 37 also provides for dispute resolution by the CRU if a direct line is refused grid connection.Under Action 31 of the Climate Action Plan Interim Actions my Department is giving consideration to further the facilitation of private networks / direct lines. Further details for this Action, including the attendant public consultation, will be made available upon publication of the Climate Action Plan.
