Blow for ESB as US deal on hold

THE ESB expressed disappointment yesterday at a decision by American authorities to suspend a lucrative project that the ESB had been named as preferred bidder to manage.

The SeTrans project, which aimed to set up an electricity transmission system in the southeast of the United States managed on a regional rather than on a state basis, was suspended by its sponsors in light of proposed changes to American energy laws.

ESBI, the ESB’s international consulting arm, and ESN National Grid, which operates the Irish power transmission network, were appointed as preferred bidders to develop a regional transmission operator in late 2002. The project hoped to restructure the way in which power transmission in the southeast was managed, to produce greater efficiency in the power network and ultimately bring benefits to consumers.