Decision on Electricity Network Connection Policy for Generators

Closing Date: N/A
Responses to: John Orme
Consultation is: CLOSED

The Commission has today (25 August 2009) published a decision paper on both ESB Networks’ and EirGrid’s policy for the connection of renewable generators to the electricity transmission network and the connection of all types of generators (excluding micro-generators) to the electricity distribution network in Ireland.  This decision paper covers numerous issues that were initially raised by wind farm developers. The main issues relate to:

. The approach to the planning/pre-construction phase for the delivery of assets required to connect generators to the network;

. The level of certainty on costs and timelines provided by the contracts offered by the transmission and distribution system operators to parties that are connecting to the network; and,

. The capacity bond that is put in place by parties that are connecting to the network.

Please click on the below links for further details on:

. This decision paper; and,

. A response-to-comments paper which provides a summary of, and the Commission’s responses to, comments received to the proposed decision on this matter.

To view the decision paper, please click below:

The response to comments paper as well as the individual responses receiveds are also published below.

For further information, please contact John Orme (distribution@cer.ie) at the Commission.

Proposed Decision on Connection Policy

The Commission has today (16 April 2009) published a proposed decision on policy for the connection of renewable generators to the electricity transmission network and the connection of all types of generators (excluding micro-generators) to the electricity distribution network in Ireland.

This proposed decision paper covers numerous issues that were initially raised by wind farm developers. The main issues relate to:

• The approach to the planning/pre-construction phase for delivery of assets required to connect generators to the network;
• The level of certainty on costs and timelines that is provided by the contracts offered by the transmission and distribution system operators to parties that are connecting to the network; and,
• The capacity bond put in place by parties that are connecting to the network.

Please click on the below links for further details on:

• This proposed decision paper;
• Responses received to the previous consultation; and,
• The documents published as part of the previous consultation on this matter.

Comments in relation to this proposed decision paper should be sent to John Orme (distribution@cer.ie) at the Commission by Friday, 15 May 2009.

To view this document and responses to the consultation, please click on the links provided below:

Responses

Consultation

The Commission has today (31st July 2008) published a suite of documents in relation to a consultation on electricity network connection policy.  These documents are listed below (please click on the relevant link):

These papers are:

- A cover paper by the Commission that provides detail on the consultation process, introduces the other documents, and makes proposals on the capacity bond;

- A list of issues raised by the IWEA and the Synergy Grid Group (a group of windfarm developers represented by Philip Lee Solicitors) in relation to current connection policy;

- A document containing ESB Networks’ proposals on how to address those issues;

And,

- A document containing EirGrid's proposals on how to address those issues;

For completeness, copies of the documents that ESB Networks currently provide as part of a connection offer are outlined below.  These documents are as follows:

- Quotation Letter;

- General Conditions for Connection of Industrail and Commercial Customers and Genrators to the Distribution System;

And,

-Major User Connection Agreement

In addition, the Commission has also published the documents that EirGrid currently provide as part of a connection offer.  These documents are as follows:

- Connection Agreement,

- General Conditions;

And,

- Schedule 10

EirGrid’s quotation letter has not been provided above as this is a bespoke document with most of the details specific to the facility in question.

For further information on this consultation, please contact John Orme (distribution@cer.ie) at the Commission.  Comments should be returned by 19 September 2008.