Farm Premises

If you require a new electricity supply for a farm building or out-house, the way you apply depends on the size of electrical load you need.

For premises requiring a load less than 30 kVA (30 kW)

Follow instructions on the page 'Single house being built on a site' to apply for a load of less than 30 Kilovolt-Amperes (kVA) (sometimes referred to as 30 Kilowatts (kW)).

Some examples of farm premises that typically use loads of less than 30kVA, include:

  • A general purpose outhouse, e.g. shed.
  • A storage shed for farm machinery.
  • A workshop without welding equipment.

For premises requiring a load greater than 30 kVA (30kW)

Follow instructions on the page 'Building a New Single Commercial / Industrial Unit' to apply for a load of greater than 30 kVA (30 kW).

Some examples of farm premises that typically use loads of greater than 30kVA, include:

  • A milking parlour.
  • A garage/workshop for farm machinery with welding equipment.
  • A medium/large cottage industry.

For out-farm/out-yard requiring a supply for lighting less than 3 kVA (3 kW)

Follow instructions on the page 'Single house being built on a site' to apply for a load of less than 3 Kilovolt-Amperes (kVA). Please state that the supply is required for farm lighting.

For premises where supply level has increased

If you install additional electrical equipment on your farm, it may cause you to exceed your existing Maximum Import Capacity (MIC). The MIC is the number of kilowatts allocated to a connection, and represents the maximum capacity of your connection point.

If you exceed your MIC, you may notice problems such as the following:

  • Your main fuse is blowing.
  • Lights dim when many electrical devices are in operation.
  • Electrical motors fail to start first time.

If your load exceeds the MIC for your connection, you need to get it increased. To do so, follow the instructions on the page 'Increase your level of supply'

Note: The above problems may also arise for customers who have not exceeded their MIC. For example, they may arise due to voltage problems in your premises or on our network. If you do not believe you have exceeded your MIC, and you have identified that the problems are not with in your own premises, find out how to get a voltage problem rectified.

For an electric fence requiring a load less than 2kVA

Follow the instructions on the page 'Guideline for Connection of a Single Unmetered Load' to apply for a connection for an electric fence with a load of less than 2kVA (kW).

For requirements governing the physical installation of an Electric Fence, follow the instructions on page 72 'Special Situations, Layout 4' of the 'National Code of Practice for Customer Interface 3rd Edition 2002'.

Download the National Code of Practice for Customer Interface 3rd Edition 2002 (PDF | 3.9MB)
or
CallSave 1850 372 757 to request a copy.

Note: In all cases ETCI rules will apply.

To move an electricity pole or line on your farm

In some circumstances you may wish to ask us to move an electricity pole or an overhead electricity line. This may arise if:

  • You are building a new premises close to an existing pole or line.
  • You are building a new extension in the vicinity of existing network.

Follow the instructions on the page 'Poles or Lines Moved on your land' to apply for a pole or line to be moved.

Note: If you have steel masts or double wood-poles on your farm land for a network line voltage of 38 kilovolts (kV) or more, ESB Networks will compensate you for Mast Interference.

Access to your lands

If ESB Networks staff need to enter your lands in order to examine or work on the electrical network, we will follow the guidelines of the 'Code of Practice for Access to Lands'.

Download the Code of Practice for Access to Lands (PDF | 150KB)
or
CallSave 1850 372 757 to request a copy.

Farm safety

Electrical safety on the farm is of the utmost importance to ESB Networks. To learn more, visit the page 'Safety on the Farm'.

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