Power Me Up: Your guide to connecting your new build to ESB Networks

The basics of getting electricity to your self-build, renovation, or new estate home

There are a variety of situations where you will apply to ESB Networks for a supply. If the home has not had power for more than 2-years, this will be applied for as a new supply.

So, you have a site or you’re renovating an old house that’s been disconnected for years, and of course you need to power your life. What’s involved in getting a new connection installed by ESB Networks? 

First of all, there’s the quite simple application process, which takes no more than 15 minutes to complete online, offering a quote for your project within 15 business days. You will need some documents on hand. First of all, there’s the site-plan. 

You should have one of these from your builder or architect as part of your planning application, showing the position of the building. This should be accompanied by an Ordnance Survey map (OS), again with your site and house marked in their existing or intended position. The scale for the site map should be 1:100 Rural, 1:500 Urban. Ask your architect or project manager if you’re not sure how your position qualifies. There’s a set scale ESB Networks will need for the OS too, so ensure this is corrected to 1:2500 — 1:10560. These maps are available from Tailte Eireann here if you’re having any problems.

Next are the ITM or GPS co-ordinates, which are highly specific in two numerical values (longitude and latitude). The ITM will be on the top corner of your Ordnance Survey Map (2, six-digit numbers), and you can find your GPS position by using Google Maps and dropping a “pin”. Your electricity contractor will complete the next document — for load and capacity.

Connection charge

They should be able to look over your completed application for any mistakes before you submit it to ESB Networks. The charges for a new connection are (typically, but every project is different): €3,486 for a standard connection with a maximum import capacity of 12kVa, and €4,721 for a single enhanced-connection maximum import capacity of 16kVa. 

If you’re in an estate of new homes, your developer will handle the actual electricity install with ESB Networks. All you need to do is to use your MPRN to choose a power supplier to your property.

What’s the difference between 12kVa and 16kVa? 12kVa is suitable to most houses with no more than 9kW of night storage heating. 16kVa could be used for somewhere needing greater draw like a small farm for example. It would also suit a large house utilising a large heat pump (10kW plus). Talk to your electrical and heating contractor. During this time, you will be assigned a Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN).

Now the time taken for the connection. Sixty days is what ESB Networks strive for, but that can of course be longer depending on demand and any complicating factors on site. This is when your meter is installed. Your electrician will actually turn on the supply to the house, and before the connection can take place, your electrician must supply a validated electrical completion certificate to ESB Networks before they start work putting in the meter. 

Make sure you keep your copy of this certificate in your records, as it forms part of any planning permission, and it may be asked for if you sell during conveyancing. Incidentally, even if you don’t have a completion certificate for your current home, you can apply to a RECI registered contractor for a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) leading to a certificate. 

The electrician will go over the house to check the safety of the wiring etc. and will make a recommendation for sorting out any issues. It’s recommended by many Irish insurers that a PIR report is carried out every 10 years, and every 5 years for rentals. Safe Electric suggest a visual check every year with a PIR every 5 years. Surprised? Frankly, so was I.

Supplier

Once you have the juice on tap, you then apply to a private supplier for the actual electricity. Moving into a new home on an estate, your builder or developer should provide you with an MPRN. You then settle on a supplier for your electricity and go into contract. 

The supplier will contact ESB Networks who will then turn the power on in just a few days. If the power has been turned off for more than 2 years to an existing house, you will need a Domestic Supply Agreement (a new connection) from ESB Networks. Citizens Information advise:

If the disconnection has been:

• Less than 6 months — You should register as a customer with an electricity supplier who will organise re-connection to the network with ESB Networks.
• Between 6 months and 2 years — You should register as a customer with an electricity supplier and arrange for a registered electrical contractor to check the wiring and provide a certificate of completion to their approved regulatory body. When ESB Networks has received a verified certificate, your supplier can then arrange for re-connection.
• More than 2 years — Apply to ESB Networks for a new connection.

Even where your property had a connection, if it’s over 2 years out of service, you apply through the New Connection pages of ESB Networks online. You also use this portal to apply for an increase to your domestic electricity capacity, to track a paper application online, to handle any micro-generation connections, and to investigate the relocating of a pole or line affecting your premises.

For more visit: esbnetworks.ie.