Electricity Supply (Special Powers) Act, 1926

What is this act about?

This law grants temporary special powers to electricity suppliers and power station owners to ensure a more economical electricity supply. These powers are in effect until electricity from the River Shannon hydroelectric scheme becomes widely available.

Who it applies to: Authorised undertakers (electricity supply companies); Owners of railway, tramway, or other electricity generating stations.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Energy and network industries
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Mutual assistance arrangements between electricity suppliers and power station owners.
The supply of electricity by owners of railway, tramway, or other generating stations to consumers.
Ancillary powers, such as breaking up roads, necessary to implement these arrangements and supplies.
Borrowing powers for local authorities acting as authorised undertakers for these purposes.

Who does this act apply to?

Authorised undertakers (electricity supply companies).
Owners of railway, tramway, or other electricity generating stations.
Consumers of electricity.

What are the key points?

Arrangements for mutual assistance can be made between two or more authorised undertakers, or between one or more authorised undertakers and owners of generating stations.
These arrangements and supplies are temporary, lasting until electricity from the River Shannon hydroelectric scheme is available to those involved.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce must approve these arrangements and supplies, and can also require them to be made.
The Minister can grant specific powers, including breaking up roads, to carry out these arrangements and supplies, after consulting with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

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Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

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ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT, 1926.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Mutual assistance by authorised undertakers and others.

Section 3

Supply of electricity by owner of generating station.

Section 4

Ancillary powers and provisions.

Section 5

Short title.

Number 2 of 1926.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT, 1926.

AN ACT TO CONFER SPECIAL POWERS DURING A LIMITED PERIOD ON CERTAIN ELECTRICITY SUPPLY UNDERTAKINGS AND OWNERS OF ELECTRICITY GENERATING STATIONS WITH A VIEW TO THE MORE ECONOMICAL SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY PENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRICITY PRODUCED UNDER STATUTORY AUTHORITY BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC POWER DERIVED FROM THE WATERS OF THE RIVER SHANNON. [27th January, 1926.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act— the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce, and the expression “authorised undertaker” and all other expressions to which special meanings are assigned by the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1919, have the meanings so assigned to them.

Mutual assistance by authorised undertakers and others.

2.—(1) During the period hereinafter mentioned the persons hereinafter mentioned may, with the approval of the Minister, and shall, if so required by the Minister, enter into and carry into effect arrangements for their mutual assistance during the said period in regard to the giving and taking of a supply of electricity and the distribution and supply of the electricity so taken and any matter or thing incidental to or connected with such giving, taking, distribution, or supply.

(2)The persons who may or shall (as the case may be) enter into such arrangements as aforesaid, are— (a) any two or more authorised undertakers, or (b) any one or more authorised undertakers, and any one or more owners of railway, tramway, or other generating stations.

(3)The period during which any such arrangement as aforesaid may or shall (as the case may be) be entered into and carried into effect is the period from the passing of this Act to the time at which a supply of electricity produced under statutory authority by means of hydraulic power derived from the waters of the River Shannon becomes available to all the authorised undertakers entering into the arrangement.

(4)Where an arrangement for mutual assistance is entered into under this section in pursuance of a requirement of the Minister, the terms and conditions of the arrangement shall be subject to the approval of the Minister, and shall, in default of agreement between the parties thereto, be settled by the Minister.

Supply of electricity by owner of generating station.

3.—(1) The owners of any railway, tramway, or other generating station may, subject to the approval of the Minister, supply electricity on such terms and conditions as in default of agreement shall be settled by the Minister to any consumer during any period commencing after the passing of this Act and terminating at or before the time at which a supply of electricity produced under statutory authority by means of hydraulic power derived from the waters of the River Shannon becomes available to such consumer.

(2)Where the premises to which a supply of electricity is proposed to be given under this section are situate in the area of supply of an authorised undertaker, the Minister shall not approve of the giving of the supply under this section unless or until he is satisfied that such authorised undertaker is either unable or unwilling to give the supply.

Ancillary powers and provisions.

4.—(1) An arrangement for mutual assistance may be entered into and carried into effect under this Act by an authorised undertaker or the owner of a generating station and a supply of electricity may be given under this Act to a consumer by the owner of a generating station notwithstanding anything to the contrary (other than provisions for the protection of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) contained in any public, general, local, personal, or private Act (except the Telegraph Acts, 1863 to 1920) or in any provisional or other order.

(2)Where an arrangement for mutual assistance has been entered into under this Act, the Minister (after consultation with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) may by order confer on all or any of the parties to the arrangement such specified powers (including powers of breaking up roads, streets, railways, and tramways) as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying the arrangement into effect.

(3)Where the owner of a railway, tramway or other generating station agrees to supply electricity to a consumer under this Act, the Minister (after consultation with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) may by order confer on such owner such specified powers (including powers of breaking up roads, streets, railways, and tramways) as may be necessary for carrying such agreement into effect.

(4)The provision of any capital required by a local authority which is an authorised undertaker for the purpose of carrying into effect an arrangement for mutual assistance entered into by such local authority under this Act shall be a purpose for which such local authority may borrow money under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1919.

Short title.

5.—This Act may be cited as the Electricity Supply (Special Powers) Act, 1926.

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