New Legislation to Protect Electricity Grid from Storm Damage Approved by Cabinet

The Government has approved priority drafting of new legislation that will create protected zones around electricity lines to prevent the devastating power outages experienced during Storm Éowyn, which left over three-quarters of a million customers without electricity at its peak.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien brought the Heads of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 to Cabinet today, proposing the establishment of "forestry corridors" where vegetation and forestry activities near power lines can be legally restricted. The unprecedented damage from Storm Éowyn in January exposed critical vulnerabilities in the network, with 768,000 homes and businesses losing power when trees and vegetation brought down electricity lines across the country.

The new Bill will grant ESB Networks enhanced powers to manage vegetation near electricity infrastructure and enable the Minister to set regulations on corridor dimensions and maintenance requirements. Landowners will have specific responsibilities for maintaining these corridors, with principles for compensation included in the legislation.

To expedite the urgent work needed, the Bill will bypass standard planning requirements while maintaining environmental protections under EU Habitats and Birds Directives. The Minister assured Cabinet that no additional costs to the Exchequer are expected, as network improvements will be funded through regulated tariffs overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

Minister O'Brien stated:

"This will be a critical piece of legislation supporting the protection of our electricity grid, thereby safeguarding homes and businesses, and especially the most vulnerable members of our communities across the country, during the more frequent and destructive storms we now face."

The legislation forms part of ESB Networks' Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan, which includes surveying the network for hazards, cooperation between ESB Networks, Coillte and the Department of Agriculture to identify at-risk areas, doubling emergency spare parts capacity, and strengthening relationships with European utilities for mutual assistance during emergencies.

The Bill will undergo thorough consultation with the forestry industry, relevant government departments, Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other stakeholders. Minister O'Brien emphasised the need to balance infrastructure resilience with the viability of the forestry sector, environmental impact and cost control.

This legislative action coincides with significant investment plans for Ireland's electricity infrastructure. Last week, the Government approved €3.5 billion for grid infrastructure from 2026-2030 as part of the National Development Plan, with €1.5 billion allocated to ESB Networks and €2 billion to EirGrid. ESB Networks has requested between €10.1 billion and €13.4 billion for the 2026-2030 period to ensure the network can meet growing demands and improve resilience against climate-related disruptions.

For Cork residents who remember the chaos of Storm Éowyn, when fallen trees turned the N40 and surrounding roads into obstacle courses, this legislation represents a crucial step towards preventing future widespread outages that left families without heat or light for days.