What Are Private Wires?
A "private wire" (or "direct line") is an electricity connection built between two private parties — for example, a solar farm supplying power directly to a neighbouring factory, or a rooftop PV system feeding several tenants in a shopping centre — without going through the public grid. Direct line refers to a single party feeding a single party. Private wires are more flexible, with potentially more than one electricity supplier and/or electricity users.
In most European countries this is already normal. In Ireland, however, current legislation (Section 37 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999) requires ESB Networks to refuse a grid connection on the grounds of capacity before the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is even allowed to consider approving a direct line. In practice, applications are queued rather than refused, resulting in not a single direct line has ever been authorised.
Two Competing Bills
There are currently two pieces of legislation in play:
✅ The Heneghan Private Members' Bill
Introduced to the Dáil by Barry Heneghan TD (Dublin Bay North). A clean, simple bill that removes the Section 37 block and gives the CRU the power to regulate private wires in a transparent, non-discriminatory way — as intended by EU Directive 2019/944.
⚠️ The Government Scheme
Attempts to legislate what should be regulated. Following public consultation it has attracted 47 change recommendations. It restricts private wires to 4 "limited circumstances" — which may itself fall foul of the EU Directive's requirement that criteria be "objective and non-discriminatory."
Why This Matters
To meet new demand from transport, heating and industrial electrification, Ireland's grid must expand faster than it can traditionally be built out. Private Wires are a critical part of the solution. They will:
- Reduce average energy costs
- Unlock thousands of new small renewable projects
- Speed up housing completions where grid delays exist
- Enable factory expansions and industrial growth
- Offset Irish fossil fuel imports (estimated €3 billion / year)
- Improve security of supply — both political (Nigel Farage type character as UK Prime Minister) and physical (recall Storm Éowyn). Private Wires will be mostly underground or within buildings.
Where We Are in the Process
The Heneghan Bill has been formally introduced to the Dáil. Its Second Stage reading is the debate on the general principles of the bill — at the end of which TDs vote on whether to allow it to proceed to committee stage. Then it goes for detailed scrutiny, a final vote, and (hopefully) into law. The realistic timeline is around six months.
The Team
Barry Heneghan Barry Heneghan was elected to the 34th Dáil in November 2024 as an Independent T.D. for Dublin Bay North. Elected at 26 years old, he is one of the youngest independent TDs ever elected in the history of the State. A Dublin native, he attended Belvedere College, where he received the Zayed Sustainability Prize for student-led innovations in solar energy and urban farming.
Barry graduated from Dublin City University with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Sustainable Energy Systems. His thesis focused on the feasibility of waste heat utilisation in data centres an area critical to Ireland’s energy future and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
He has a keen interest in renewables, logical energy solutions, and grid reform. Future-proofing Ireland’s energy grid is a key priority for Barry as he works towards a more secure, sustainable, and affordable energy system for all.
Barry also has a strong focus on biodiversity and environmental stewardship. A passionate beekeeper, he is committed to protecting pollinators and promoting ecological balance.
Barry previously worked in media as presenter of the TG4 programme Barragram.
Fergus Wheatley is an energy consultant active in the industry for over 20 years. He is the Engineering Director of SmartPower Procurement Ltd. which helps companies get grants for Energy Upgrades. Active on the NSAI/TC 59 "Energy Management and Energy Savings", skills include ISO-50001, Excellent in Energy Design (EXEED), Energy Credits and Energy Audits.
Darren Kinsella actively involved in shaping industry standards and driving change as a member of influential committees and organizations, including the NSAI TC2 WG3 committee for EV charging standards and the ZEVI stakeholders committee for public-private infrastructure. He sits on the board of Smart Grid Ireland, contributing to sustainable solutions in energy distribution.
Patrick Liddy lead of Energy Innovation Ireland. Patrick developed the first Demand Side Unit (DSU) in Ireland, which involved changing grid codes and a range of protocols that ESB networks needed to run the scheme. Still active in the DSU space, owns and runs "Managed Power Ltd".
Gregg Allen co-founder and manager of Sustainable Projects Ireland Ltd, the company behind the Cloughjordan Ecovillage project which is leading the way in building Resilient Communities through the construction of ecological and energy efficient buildings, provision of local renewable energy, local food production, local employment through enterprise, community-level governance and conserving genetic biodiversity. Waiting since 2016 to get grid connections for 3 x 5 MW solar farms on ex-landfill sites - (one of the main drivers behind this legislation).
James Carton Associate Professor in Sustainable Energy at UCD, IEA Task51, Expert in Hydrogen & expertise in Hydrogen Storage & Offshore Wind; Previous Chair of Hydrogen Ireland, World Energy Council FEL Alumni.