Utilities Directive
As Gaeilge: Treoir na Fóntas
Also known as: Directive 2014/25/EU, SI 286/2016
Last reviewed April 2026
The separate EU procurement regime for utilities sectors (water, energy, transport, postal), with higher thresholds and more flexible procedures.
Directive 2014/25/EU governs procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors. It is transposed in Ireland by SI 286/2016. Compared to the main Public Sector Directive, utilities buyers benefit from higher financial thresholds, more flexible procedure choice (notably negotiated procedure with prior call for competition), and qualification systems. ESB Networks, Iarnród Éireann, Irish Water and Bus Éireann all procure under this regime.
In the Tenderwatch data
- Appears in 1 notices captured in the last 12 months on Tenderwatch (as at November 2026).
Sources and legal basis
Primary legislation and official guidance. Always confirm the current text on the source before relying on it.
Related terms
EU Procurement Directives
The EU rules governing public procurement above threshold values, transposed into Irish law as S.I. 284/2016.
Threshold
The value above which specific procurement rules apply: €50k national, €140k/€216k EU services, €5.404M EU works (2026–2027 cycle, effective 1 January 2026).
Negotiated Procedure
A flexible EU procedure where the authority negotiates terms with shortlisted bidders: only allowed in defined circumstances.
Concession Contract
A contract where the supplier earns its return mainly from exploiting the works or services (e.g. tolls, user fees), bearing operational risk.
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