Government advances bill to boost electricity resilience
Minister Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the government's approval of new legislation aimed at enhancing the robustness of Ireland's electricity network. This move addresses risks posed by forestry and severe weather, following lessons learned from Storm Éowyn.
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⏱️ 1 min read
The Government has approved revised legislation designed to strengthen the resilience of Ireland's electricity network, particularly where it intersects with forestry areas. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien highlighted that the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2026 will create a modern legal framework empowering ESB Networks to better manage vegetation-related risks and improve restoration efforts after severe weather events.
This initiative responds directly to the challenges exposed by Storm Éowyn, which left approximately 768,000 customers without power due to damage caused by forestry and vegetation. Since then, ESB Networks has invested €74.5 million in a Winter Resilience Programme, including extensive surveying and collaboration with over 1,800 forestry owners to mitigate risks across more than 40 kilometres of critical network infrastructure.
The new legislation balances the protection of electricity infrastructure with environmental and landowner considerations, establishing a targeted, risk-based approach to vegetation management. It complements ongoing resilience investments funded through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities’ Price Review 6 (PR6), which allocates nearly €890 million to storm resilience and climate adaptation measures. The long-term programme will be implemented progressively across multiple regulatory periods, ensuring Ireland’s electricity network is better prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from future severe weather events.
This initiative responds directly to the challenges exposed by Storm Éowyn, which left approximately 768,000 customers without power due to damage caused by forestry and vegetation. Since then, ESB Networks has invested €74.5 million in a Winter Resilience Programme, including extensive surveying and collaboration with over 1,800 forestry owners to mitigate risks across more than 40 kilometres of critical network infrastructure.
The new legislation balances the protection of electricity infrastructure with environmental and landowner considerations, establishing a targeted, risk-based approach to vegetation management. It complements ongoing resilience investments funded through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities’ Price Review 6 (PR6), which allocates nearly €890 million to storm resilience and climate adaptation measures. The long-term programme will be implemented progressively across multiple regulatory periods, ensuring Ireland’s electricity network is better prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from future severe weather events.
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