A dispute over the ESB’s decision on the award of contracts worth €150m for the maintenance of overhead power lines has been admitted to the Commercial Court list.

The North's main electricity supplier, Viridian, confirmed today that it had agreed to the terms of a £1.6bn (€2.4bn) private equity takeover.

Energy company Viridian – parent of Northern Ireland Electricity – today confirmed it was the subject of takeover interest.