Alan Healy: We're throwing away the cheap electricity — then paying to import the dear stuff

There is a bitter irony about €41 increase in electricity bills coming into effect in October which is needed to strengthen a grid that is unable to carry the cheap electricity we do generate

About 15% of the power produced by Irish wind farms was thrown away because the network was not strong enough to move it.

From October 1, the average Irish household electricity bill will rise by €41.25. 

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities signed off on the increase late last month, and the reason given was perfectly reasonable. The money is needed by ESB Networks and EirGrid to upgrade the grid and "deliver critical new infrastructure to meet demand and will support renewable generation, offshore grid development, and improving security of supply and resilience".