Wayleave agreements

To ensure that the electricity network can deliver a reliable and efficient supply of electricity, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) regularly installs equipment throughout Northern Ireland. When we install equipment on privately owned land we will draw up a wayleave agreement with the landowner. 

A wayleave agreement is a contractual licence which allows NIE to install, access, repair and maintain its electricity equipment on privately owned land. It is intended to reflect the impact of electricity equipment on land use.

An agreement is required when at least one other party takes their electricity supply from the equipment on your land. It is not required when the installed equipment is only intended to supply the land owner's property.

To help explain wayleave agreements, NIE has developed an NIE wayleave payments information pack [481kB PDF] which describes the payment process and how to identify NIE equipment on your land.

Understanding your wayleave payment

Once a wayleave agreement has been signed you will be issued with an annual payment by cheque (subject to a value of £2.00).  If you’re not sure how this payment is calculated you can cross-reference the equipment on your land with the information in your wayleave agreement, map, cheque and the schedule of wayleave rents. 

1. The wayleave agreement number will match agreement number on remittance form
2. Location of equipment will match location on remittance form
3. Equipment codes are explained on the schedule of wayleave rents
4. The cheque amount will correspond with the equipment in the wayleave agreement and the schedule of wayleave rents.