Review of Large Energy Users Connection Policy Consultation

Update – Stakeholder Workshop on Thursday 29 February at 11:00am

The CRU published a consultation paper on Review of Large Energy Users connection policy (CRU2024001) on 15 January 2024.

In order to facilitate this consultation process, an online Stakeholder Workshop is planned for Thursday 29 February 2024 at 11:00am – 12:30pm. This will provide a summary of the information within the Consultation paper (CRU2024001), including different possible approaches and consultation questions around these. This workshop will provide an opportunity to explore and discuss different possible approaches, and for stakeholders to provide their views. This workshop will provide an opportunity for questions and clarifications from stakeholders, in order to assist in submitting responses to the Consultation paper. Please register your interest for attending this workshop by COB Tuesday 27 February 2024, by completing the form at link here. The CRU will circulate an agenda in advance along with the workshop invitation details.

Ireland is a world leader in digital technologies, and the R&D and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and ICT infrastructure and devices inter alia. The CRU is committed to the twin goals of decarbonisation and digitalisation outlined in Government policy. This consultation, and the call for evidence that preceded it, is targeted at identifying the measures by which Ireland can meet its climate targets, and carbon budgets, while facilitating further economic growth in these and other sectors. The CRU is calling on industry, Government Departments, Semi-state entities and Agencies to continue to engage in this process, in order to identify the means by which we can achieve these twin goals of decarbonisation and economic growth, and the policy, regulatory and other cross-agency measures that can facilitate this.

On the 21 June 2023 the CRU published a call for evidence paper to start this process, with the consultation period for this closing on the 30 August. On 15 January, the CRU published a follow-on consultation paper on Review of Large Energy Users connection policy (CRU2024001). The purpose of this consultation paper (CRU2024001) is to seek views on potential assessment criteria which the SOs could use to assess LEU applications in the context of statutory national climate targets. The outcome of this work may inform any resulting CRU decision, including any new direction, that may apply to new connection applications.

Due to a number of requests received from stakeholders to allow for additional time to submit a response, the CRU has decided to allow a three-week extension to the response deadline. Responses are invited from interested parties on this consultation until COB Tuesday, 19 March 2024. Responses to this consultation paper should be sent, preferably by email, to electricityconnectionpolicy@cru.ie. The feedback from the consultation will inform a decision to be published in due course.