In short
This law amends the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to allow EirGrid to construct, own, operate, and maintain electricity interconnectors, and it also updates rules regarding EirGrid's financial activities and subsidiaries.
What it regulates
- The construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of electricity interconnectors by EirGrid.
- The financial limits on EirGrid's borrowings and capital expenditure.
- The establishment and disposal of EirGrid's subsidiaries and investments.
- The legal status of interconnectors as part of the transmission system for charging purposes.
Who it concerns
- EirGrid, a public limited company.
- The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Finance.
- The Commission for Energy Regulation.
Key points
- EirGrid can construct an interconnector if authorized by the Commission.
- EirGrid can transport electricity across and maintain an interconnector if licensed by the Commission.
- EirGrid cannot lease, sell, or dispose of an interconnector without the consent of the Minister, approved by the Minister for Finance.
- The total borrowings by EirGrid shall not exceed €750,000,000.
📄 Legal text
Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Eirgrid) Act 2008
Skip to content
Disclaimer
Feedback
Helpdesk
Gaeilge
Léim go dtí an t-ábhar
Séanadh
Aiseolas
Deasc chabhrach
English
Gaeilge
English
Produced by the Office of the Attorney General
Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne
Home
Legislation
Acts of the Oireachtas
Statutory Instruments
Pre-1922 Legislation
Constitution
External Resources
Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas)
Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette
Revised Acts (LRC)
Classified List of Legislation (LRC)
Translations (acts.ie)
Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas)
Government Publications for Sale
EU Law (EUR-Lex)
FAQ
Disclaimer
Feedback
Helpdesk
Search
Baile
Reachtaíocht
Achtanna an Oireachtais
Ionstraimí Reachtúla
Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922
Bunreacht
Acmhainní Seachtracha
Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais)
Iris Oifigiúil
Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí)
Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta
Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie)
Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais)
Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol
Dlí AE (EUR-Lex)
CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta)
Séanadh
Aiseolas
Deasc chabhrach
Cuardach
TitleTeideal
Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon
TypeCineál
All Legislation
Acts
Statutory Instruments
Advanced SearchCuardach Casta
HomeBaile
ActsAchtanna
2008
Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Eirgrid) Act 2008
Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Eirgrid) Act 2008
Permanent
Page URL
View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt
View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán
Bill History
Stair Bille
Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act
Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht
Revised Act
Acht Athbh…
Open PDFOscail PDF
Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán
Number 11 of 2008
ELECTRICITY REGULATION (AMENDMENT) (EIRGRID) ACT 2008
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Definitions.
2. Functions of EirGrid and interconnector.
3. Amendment of section 2A (position of interconnectors as respects transmission system) of Act of 1999.
4. Amendment of section 34A (terms for access to interconnector) of Act of 1999.
5. Subsidiaries of EirGrid, etc.
6. Borrowings by EirGrid.
7. Capital expenditure by EirGrid.
8. Alteration of memorandum and articles of association of EirGrid.
9. Revocations.
10. Short title.
Acts Referred to
Companies Acts
Electricity Regulation Act 1999
1999, No. 23
Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006
2006, No. 40
Number 11 of 2008
ELECTRICITY REGULATION (AMENDMENT) (EIRGRID) ACT 2008
AN ACT TO ENABLE, SUBJECT TO THE GRANT OF AN AUTHORISATION BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 16(1)(b) OF THE ELECTRICITY REGULATION ACT 1999, THE CONSTRUCTION BY EIRGRID OF AN INTERCONNECTOR, TO ENABLE, SUBJECT TO THE GRANT OF A LICENCE UNDER SECTION 14(1)(i) OF THE ELECTRICITY REGULATION ACT 1999, THE TRANSPORTATION OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH AN INTERCONNECTOR BY EIRGRID, TO ENABLE EIRGRID TO OWN AND OPERATE SUCH AN INTERCONNECTOR, TO PROVIDE FOR SUBSIDIARIES OF EIRGRID, TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EIRGRID MAY BORROW, TO PROVIDE FOR THE TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY EIRGRID AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS.
[8th July, 2008]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Definitions.
1.— In this Act—
“ Act of 1999 ” means the
Electricity Regulation Act 1999
;
“Commission” means the Commission for Energy Regulation;
“EirGrid” means the public limited company incorporated pursuant to Regulation 34 of the Principal Regulations;
“interconnector” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 1999;
“ Minister ” means the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources;
“Principal Regulations” means the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 (
S.I. No. 445 of 2000
).
Functions of EirGrid and interconnector.
2.— (1) Subject to the grant by the Commission to EirGrid of an authorisation by virtue of section 16(1)(b) of the Act of 1999, EirGrid may construct an interconnector.
(2) Subject to the grant by the Commission to EirGrid of a licence under section 14(1)(i) of the Act of 1999, EirGrid may transport electricity across and maintain an interconnector.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) EirGrid may own an interconnector.
(4) EirGrid shall not lease, sell or otherwise dispose of, in whole or in part, an interconnector it has an interest in, including a proposed interconnector, to another person without the consent of the Minister, given with the approval of the Minister for Finance.
(5) EirGrid may carry on any activity which appears to EirGrid to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to or which appears to EirGrid to facilitate, the performance by EirGrid of any function under this Act.
(6) EirGrid shall exercise its functions under this section in a manner consistent with its functions as the transmission system operator under the Principal Regulations and accordingly—
(a) the functions of EirGrid under this section shall be read together with its functions provided for by Regulation 8 of the Principal Regulations as the transmission system operator, and
(b) the other provisions of the Principal Regulations which relate to the functions of EirGrid (including its functions as the transmission system operator under those Regulations) shall, to the extent that it is necessary or consistent to do so, apply to its functions under this section.
Amendment of section 2A (position of interconnectors as respects transmission system) of Act of 1999.
3.— Section 2A (inserted by
section 8
of the
Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006
) of the Act of 1999 is amended by substituting the following for subsection (3):
“(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2)—
(a) an interconnector owned by a person other than the Board—
(i) shall, where subsection (4) applies, and
(ii) may, where the Commission determines that it is in the public interest,
be considered to be part of the transmission system for the purposes of calculating charges and imposing charges for use of the transmission system, and
(b) an interconnector owned by the transmission system operator shall be regarded as part of the transmission system for the purposes of the functions of the transmission system operator.
(4) For the purpose of subsection (3)(a), an interconnector constructed pursuant to section 16A shall be deemed to be in the public interest.”.
Amendment of section 34A (terms for access to interconnector) of Act of 1999.
4.— Section 34A (inserted by
section 8
of the
Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006
) of the Act of 1999 is amended by inserting the following subsections after subsection (5):
“(6) A person who transports electricity across an interconnector without being duly licensed to do so under section 14(1) commits an offence and is liable—
(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding3 years or to both.
(7) Summary proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought and prosecuted by the Commission.”.
Subsidiaries of EirGrid, etc.
5.— (1) EirGrid may not, without the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, acquire, establish or dispose of subsidiaries or invest in other undertakings.
(2) Without prejudice to EirGrid exercising any of its functions, a subsidiary of EirGrid may exercise such and so many of EirGrid’s functions as are provided for in the memorandum and articles of association of the subsidiary.
(3) An alteration in the memorandum of association or articles of association of a subsidiary of EirGrid shall not be valid or effectual unless it is made with the consent of the Minister.
Borrowings by EirGrid.
6.— (1) Subject to the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance, EirGrid may borrow money (including money in a currency other than the Euro) by any means it considers appropriate and on such terms and conditions as it may determine for any purposes arising in the performance of its objects or duties.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the aggregate at any time of borrowings (including any previous borrowing by virtue of Regulation 60 of the Principal Regulations) by EirGrid under subsection (1) shall not exceed €750,000,000.
(3) For the purposes of this section moneys borrowed in a currency other than the Euro shall be deemed to be the equivalent in Euro of the actual moneys borrowed, such equivalent being calculated according to the rate of exchange at the time of such borrowing for that currency and the Euro.
Capital expenditure by EirGrid.
7.— (1) EirGrid shall not incur any expenditure for capital purposes without the approval of the Minister.
(2) The total expenditure of EirGrid for capital purposes shall not exceed such sum as may stand specified from time to time by the Minister.
Alteration of memorandum and articles of association of EirGrid.
8.— EirGrid shall take such steps under the Companies Acts as may be necessary to alter its memorandum and articles of association to make them consistent with this Act.
Revocations.
9.— Regulations 59, 60 and 61 of the Principal Regulations are revoked.
Short title.
10.— This Act may be cited as the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Act 2008.
Privacy Statement
Accessibility
European Legislation Identifier (PDF)
Open Data License
Ráiteas Príobháideachais
Inrochtaineacht
Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI)
Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte
Liosta Fianán
© Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas
© Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais
AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.