Power change irks farmers

A MAJOR overhaul of the power network, which has been commissioned by the ESB, is leading to mayhem for farmers.

Even as the world’s most powerful nation was rocked last week by blackouts in the northeastern US, the ESB were getting numerous complaints here of uncertainty of power supply on farms and, in some cases, issues of safety which have arisen for farmers and their families as a result of the ESB’s supply line maintenance.

It is understood that the Health and Safety Authority is carrying out an investigation into one incident involving a power line on the Limerick-Cork border, where serious injury could have resulted.

Neglect of the power grid is being blamed for the US blackouts, but the ESB aims to prevent similar situation here by replacing rural power lines which have been in use for about half a century, since the Rural Electrification Scheme of the early fifties. The multi-million euro nationwide overhaul is being carried out by an independent contractor commissioned by the ESB.

It has been has been creating mayhem for farmers, says Gerard Quain, Chairman, Limerick ICMSA, who runs a dairy farm on the Limerick-Cork border. “We all accept the necessity to maintain the power lines, and after 50 years, some of the poles may not be in good condition, and some of the lines have rusted, but more communication by the ESB with their customers is needed. We still have to do our work, and we need to know when we are going to have power”, he said.

“Some evenings, we did not get back the power until nearly 8pm, even though we had been told it would have been restored much earlier. Farmers have cows to milk at this time of the year and they are dependent on the power. What has been happening in this area has not been acceptable”, he said.

Mr Quain said he had received many complaints from farmers. “I contacted the ESB and was informed that someone would get back to me, but there has been no response. I don’t think that is good enough”, he said.

The Health and Safety Authority are believed to be investigating on a farm where a live power line came down the evening after maintenance workers had been working on it.