The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published its draft determination for the sixth Price Review (PR6), outlining a substantial €14.1bn investment package for Ireland’s electricity networks from 2026 to 2030. The plan, which could rise to €18.1bn, allocated significant funding to ESB Networks and EirGrid to advance decarbonisation, enhance security of supply, and build a more resilient and smarter grid.
Under the proposal, ESB Networks will receive a baseline allowance of €11.5bn, comprising €9.2bn in capital expenditure and €2.3bn in operational expenditure. EirGrid is set to receive a €2.6bn package, with €1.4bn for capital projects and €1.2billion for operational costs.
This major investment is targeted at achieving key government objectives, including upgrading infrastructure to support the connection of up to one million electric vehicles and 680,000 heat pumps. It will also facilitate the connection of 4.4GW of renewable generation to the distribution system.
Key deliverables of PR6:
- The full funding of 29 priority transmission projects to add over 22,000 MVA of additional capacity.
- An investment of €0.89 billion in an enhanced storm resilience programme, implementing lessons learned from events like Storm Éowyn.
- The establishment of offshore wind infrastructure capability, supporting over 5GW of offshore wind capacity in the next 5-10 years.
- A comprehensive strategy to replace approximately 50,000 poles to address ageing infrastructure.
- The development of a new state-of-the-art control centre by EirGrid to enable a smarter, low-carbon electricity system.
For consumers, the CRU anticipates that the significant investment will lead to an increase in network charges, which account for about 30% of an average bill. For a typical domestic customer, the average annual increase in their network tariff is expected to be around €6, potentially rising to €16 if the high investment case is realised. However, the CRU notes that these investments are also expected to drive down overall system costs by reducing constraints, and the final impact on bills will be determined by electricity suppliers.
The CRU is now seeking feedback from stakeholders on these proposals, with a consultation period open until the 11th of September 2025. A Final Determination is expected in December 2025.
The figure below has been taken from the CRU’s consultation and presents a summary – at a glance – of some of the key figures and outcomes that the PR6 package is expected to facilitate:
