Demand Connections

In deciding which System Operator (SO) to apply to, the following information will be useful.  

For facilities with a total forecast demand of less than 20 MVA at a single location, please apply to the distribution operator via the ESB Networks website.

For larger connections of 20 MVA or above, please submit a formal application to EirGrid.

Application forms and documents for new demand connections are available for download below.

Appendix D in the Application Form notes other documents required upon application.

Initial Fee

On submission of a complete application to the TSO, the customer should pay an instalment of €7,000 (including VAT). This is the initial fee for the application. A complete application must include all documentation outlined in Appendix D of the Demand Customer Application Form.

Total Application Fee

The total application fee (or the balance of fee) is dependent on the size of the plant. The formula for calculating this fee is set out in the Statement of Charges document which is approved by the CRU annually.

The customer must accurately determine the MIC required for the facility upon application. MIC is the maximum amount of capacity or quantity of power which is proposed to be used. This value will determine the Customer’s Network Capacity charge (see Statement of Charges). Should a customer breach their contracted MIC, they are liable for an Unathorised Usage Charge.

Any amendments to MIC values during the application process may lead to EirGrid reassessing the application. This could result in a delay to the issuance of the connection offer.

We await clarity from the CRU on how future demand grid connection applications are to be processed, including data centres.

An autoproducer is a facility that produces electricity equal or greater (no more than two and a half times) than the facility requires to reduce their dependency on the grid. We recommend reviewing Direction CER/03/237 which can provide a more comprehensive definition.

Customers may apply for a grid connection to generate and consume electricity from that site. Applications can be made via the System Operators in accordance with the ECP-2 ruleset. Under ECP-2, they are considered a Category B [Non-Batch] application. 

The document below sets out the ECP-2 ruleset and the application process.

Applications to the TSO can be made using the Autoproducer Customer Connection form.

The ECP-2 ruleset stipulates that Category B can processed either:

The SOs assign a “Received Complete Date” to projects which submit application forms with a certain minimum amount of information.

Demand and generation customers may apply to change certain elements of their connection agreements by submitting a formal modification request to EirGrid. 

Making a Request

Modification requests can be submitted to EirGrid by filling out the appropriate form(s) and paying the appropriate fee. All modification requests should be submitted in soft copy to OPMO@eirgrid.com.

The fees relevant to the modification can be viewed below in EirGrid’s Statement of Charges (Page 19). The General Table of Chargeable Modification Fees can be viewed in Appendix 2 (Page 40).

The Connection Offer Policy for further information around the rules that relate to modification requests and the clarifications that have been approved.

For further information we recommend you review the additional documentation below.

If you have any queries, you can reach us via the contact section of our website or email the Offer Programme Management Office (OPMO).