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ARTICLE · 24 FEBRUARY 2025

Data Centres: Key Points In Consultation On Electricity Connection Policy

Arthur Cox
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is consulting until 4 April 2025 on a Large Energy Users connection policy (CRU/2025/04) targeted exclusively at data centre customers seeking to connect to the electricity network.

IrelandEnergy and Natural Resources
Niamh McGovern
Niamh McGovern
James Downey
James Downey
Katrina Donnelly
Katrina Donnelly
Aaron Boyle
Aaron Boyle
Karen Killoran
Karen Killoran
Sarah Barrett
Sarah Barrett
Gillian Carragher
Gillian Carragher
Bob Hughes
Bob Hughes
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Maeve Crockett
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is consulting until 4 April 2025 on a Large Energy Users connection policy (CRU/2025/04) targeted exclusively at data centre customers seeking to connect to the electricity network.

The CRU indicates this policy is for the near-term, pending a longer-term approach which would consider spatial planning to facilitate coordinated delivery of utilities. Effective spatial planning underpins infrastructure delivery. When it comes to grid connection and demand response, these are areas supported by EU and domestic law regimes. Connection policy must be non-discriminatory, and there are prescribed circumstances in which connections may be refused. In addition, demand response under EU law is an activity undertaken by final customers in response to market signals or the acceptance of their bid to sell demand reduction.

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This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.

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