Archibald welcomes fairer and more affordable electricity grid connections for Northern Ireland

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has welcomed new connection charging arrangements which come into effect today (1 July).

The new charging arrangements implement the Minister's decision last year to deliver fairer and more affordable grid connections for rural businesses and families.

The new arrangements remove a previous financial disadvantage, particularly in rural areas, to businesses and homes seeking a new connection or increasing their electricity capacity.  This will spread the cost to reinforce the grid across all electricity customers over a longer period of time. 

The Minister said: Today marks real progress for electricity customers and implements my decision to ensure that the cost of connecting to our electricity network is fair and just for all.

By sharing these costs more widely, we are making it easier for families to build homes in their local communities, and for rural businesses to invest, expand and create more good jobs. This will strengthen local economies and drive regional economic development across the north.

These reforms also bring the north into closer alignment with the rest of Ireland and Britain, improving our competitiveness as a place to do business, work and live.

The changes will help unlock investment, support economic growth, and enable the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy.

Welcoming the change, CBI Northern Ireland Chair, Brian Donaldson said: At a time when the cost of doing business remains the number one concern for business leaders, changes such as these can make a real difference to investment decisions, business confidence, and overall economic growth.

Local companies are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and increasing their use of renewable energy, and fairer grid connection arrangements are a critical component in enabling that transition."

Edel Creery, Executive Director Customer & Operations, at NIE Networks welcomed the new arrangements as an important step towards a fairer and more accessible electricity network, adding: By sharing costs more equitably, they will make it easier for households and businesses to connect, supporting a more sustainable energy future.

We encourage anyone planning a new or upgraded connection to get in touch so we can provide advice and support throughout the process.

Notes to editors:

1. More information on the new connection charging arrangements, including FAQs, can be found here: www.nienetworks.co.uk/news/article/2026/new-connection-charging-arrangements-from-1-july
2. The Minister's Decision on Fairer Grid Connection Costs, published on 26 November 2025 www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/decision-fairer-grid-connection-costs.
3. The Utility Regulator has made the necessary modifications to NIE Networks distribution licence and has undertaken regulatory scrutiny of the detailed charging arrangements.
4. NIE Networks will invest over £2.2 billion through its RP7 programme, between April 2025 and March 2031, to upgrade and expand the network, increasing capacity to support growing demand and the transition to renewable electricity.