30-Second Overview
Electricity regulatory charges are mandatory, non-negotiable fees added to every electricity bill in Ireland. Also referred to as “non-energy charges” or “pass-through charges,” they are set annually by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). These charges include:
- Transmission Use of System (TUoS) fees (for the high-voltage national grid).
- Distribution Use of System (DUoS) fees (for the local low-voltage network).
They help fund the maintenance and modernisation of Ireland’s electricity grid, ensuring a reliable and secure power supply. They subsidise renewable energy projects and the expansion of the electricity grid to meet future demand (e.g. electric vehicles, data centres).
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What are Electricity Regulatory Charges?
Electricity regulatory charges are grid charges used to support the delivery of electricity across Ireland. These are essential to meet Ireland's renewable energy and carbon-reduction goals. The costs are shared among all electricity users, both domestic and commercial. Electricity regulatory charges are also known as:
- Pass-through charges
- Non-energy charges
Every year, the CRU reviews and approves any changes to regulatory charges based on submissions from (i) Eirgrid (transmission system operator), and (ii) ESB Networks (distribution network owner and operator). Electricity suppliers pass on any increase or decrease in regulatory change. There is no supplier profit margin on regulatory charges, and as such, suppliers cannot absorb approved increases.
The Difference Between Electricity Transmission and Distribution Charges
Transmission Use of System (TUoS) Charges
TUoS charges fund the national high-voltage electricity grid:
- Operated by Eirgrid
- Owned by ESB Networks
- Transports electricity across Ireland and connects power stations, wind farms, and interconnectors.
Distribution Use of System (DUoS) Charges
DUoS charges fund the local low-voltage network:
- Operated by ESB Networks
- Includes substations, local cables, and household/business metering systems
- Delivers electricity to homes, SMEs, and larger businesses
What are Electricity Regulatory Charges Used for?
Electricity regulatory charges enable continuous investment in the national electricity grid:
- Prevents power outages and blackouts.
- Funds electricty connection of new developments.
- Supports economic growth and job creation.
- Prepares the electricity grid for renewable energy, heat pumps, and electric vehicles.
What are the Key Drivers of Increased Electricity Demand?
- Economic and business growth.
- Rising number of data centres.
- Microgeneration (e.g. solar panels exporting back to the grid).
- Electrification of heat (heat pumps) and transport (electric vehicles)
Can You Reduce Electricity Regulatory Charges?
You can not avoid electricity regulatory charges, but you can optimise them by making sure that your meter MIC is set correctly. Utilityfair can check if your meter MIC is set correctly, and we can also reduce your electricity bill by securing a better electricity rate. It's completely free and you are in safe hands with Ireland's largest and most reviewed commercial energy broker.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Electricity regulatory charges are mandatory, non-negotiable fees applied to every electricity bill in Ireland. They fund the operation, maintenance, and development of the electricity grid and are set annually by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
TUoS (Transmission Use of System): Costs for using the high-voltage national grid operated by EirGrid.
DUoS (Distribution Use of System): Costs for the local low-voltage network operated by ESB Networks.
The CRU sets the charges each year, based on cost submissions from EirGrid and ESB Networks.
Regulated and unavoidable. However it is possible to optimse them by ensuring that your electricity meter MIC is set correctly. The best way to lower your overall bill is by securing a more competitive electricity supply rate.
Charges rise due to higher demand for electricity, more renewable energy integration, the growth of data centres, and the electrification of heat and transport.
No. While both households and buinesses pay regulatory charges, the amount paid is not the same. Large commercial users pay more the domestic users as they place a higher demand on the grid. Specifically connercial users pay higer capacity charges and a higher PSO levy.
Most electricity regulatory charges are separate from wholesale electricity prices and supplier margins. Regulatory charges cover grid infrastructure, not energy itself.
The only regulatory charge that is linked to wholesale electricity prices is the electricity PSO levy. This is because the PSO levy subsidises renewable electricity generation. When wholesale electricty prices from fossil fuels is higher, a lower subsidy is required.
Transmission (TUoS) and Distribution (DUoS) charges fund essential grid investments such as upgrading substations, maintaining cables, preventing blackouts, enabling connection to renewable generation assets, and generally upgrading the electricity grid to support economic expansion.
For smaller energy users, they are often incorporated into the headline unit price. For larger users, they are shown as “pass-through charges”, “non-energy charges,” or itemised as TUoS and DUoS depending on the supplier’s billing format.
While we cannot reduce regulated charges, Utilityfair helps businesses cut energy costs by comparing electricity suppliers and securing the best available rates.
