Electricity sector in Ireland

The high-voltage Irish electricity transmission grid comprises 6,800 km of power lines and operates at 400 kV, 220 kV and 110 kV.[16] Substations provide entry points to, and exits from, the transmission grid.  Entry points include thermal and hydro-electric power stations, major wind farms, and inter-connectors from other countries and regions. Exit points are to lower voltage (220 kV, 110 kV, and 38 kV) transmission and distribution substations.

EirGrid is the Transmission System Operator (TSO), and ESB Networks is the Transmission Asset Owner (TAO).[16]

There are two 400 kV lines. One is from Moneypoint power station to Woodland substation where there is a connection to the 400 kV DC East-West Interconnector. The Oldstreet 400 V substation is an intermediate substation on this line. The second line is from Moneypoint power station to Dunstown  400 kV substation.[17]

There are 220 kV substations at:

Aghada power station, Arklow, Arva, Ballyvouskill, Ballynahulla, Belcamp, Carrickmines, Cashla, Clashavoon, Clonee, Corduff, Cowcross, Cullenagh, Dunstown, Finglas, Flagford, Glanagow power station, Gorman, Great Island power station, Huntstown power station, Kellistown, Kilpaddoge, Killonan, Knockraha, Killonan, Lodgewood, Louth (and a connection to the275 kV Northern Ireland grid), Maynooth, Moneypoint power station, Prospect, Raffee, Shannonbridge, Srananagh, Tarbert power station, Turlough Hill, and West Dublin.[17]

The electricity industry in Northern Ireland is regulated by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation.[19] The authority is an independent public body established to oversee and regulate the electricity, gas, water and sewerage industries in Northern Ireland. The Authority is a non-ministerial government department responsible for promoting the short and long term interests of consumers. It does not make policy, but ensures that the energy and water utility industries are regulated and developed within ministerial policies. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.[19]

The office of Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland was established in 1992 in association with the privatisation of electricity supplies in Northern Ireland.[20] The Director General was appointed by the Department of Economic Development to regulate the electricity industry.[21] Statutory duties included ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity were satisfied; that licence holders were able to finance their activities; to promote competition in the generation and supply of electricity; to protect the interests of consumers of electricity in terms of price and continuity of supply; to promote efficiency and economy; to promote research and development; to protect the public from danger; and to secure the health and safety of persons employed in the generation, transmission or supply of electricity.[22]

The regulatory system was reformed in 2003 to combine the regulation of electricity and natural gas into a single energy regulator. The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation was established and the offices of Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland and Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland were abolished.[23] The posts of Chief Executive and Chair of the Energy Regulator were split in 2006.

In April 2007 the regulatory system for utilities was further reformed to encompass the water supply and sewage industries.[24] The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation became the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The Board comprises a non-executive Chairman, four non-executive members and the Chief Executive. The key functional areas in the organisation are Network Operations, Wholesale, Retail and Consumer Protection, and Corporate Affairs.[25]

Director General of Electricity Supply

• Geoffrey Horton, 1992–1995[26]
• Douglas Bowman McIldoon (b. 1945), 1995–2003. Was also Director General of Gas Supply.

Chair and Chief Executive of Energy Regulation

• Douglas Bowman McIldoon, 2003–June 2006.[27]

Chief Executive of Energy Regulation

• Iain Osborne, June 2006–2007[27]

Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation

• Iain Osborne, 2007–December 2010
• Shane Lynch, January 2011–October 2013[28]
• Jenny Pyper, October 2013–Autumn 2020[29]

Chair of Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation

• Professor Peter Matthews, 2006–July 2012[28][30]
• Dr Bill Emery, July 2012–date (2020)[31]