Householders face more power cuts as ESB fights to upgrade system

HOUSEHOLDERS face further power cuts during peak demand periods as the ESB battles to alleviate pressure on its national grid system.

Lightning storms over the past two weeks left 10,000 homes without power. Extra power usage at peak times over the weekend, caused by tens of thousands of hurling fans turning on their televisions for the two All-Ireland semi-finals, has led to black-outs on lines in parts of Kilkenny and Wexford.

A series of lightning strikes in the North and the South-East have been wreaking havoc with supply. This, coupled with the pressure of 64,000 new connections last year and ever-increasing demand for power, is putting the entire system under strain.

While a New York black-out scenario is not on the cards yet, the ESB critically needs more generators on the system, its spokesman, Kevin MacDermott, admitted.

“We had 64,000 new connections last year and indications are that we will have a similar number of new customers next year. This puts extra strain on the system and those looking for connections in the future will have to wait longer as its all putting extra strain on our engineers.”

Hurling fans in Fethard-on-Sea in Wexford were furious after they were left without power for Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final replay against Cork.

In Kilkenny, fans on the Dublin side of the city who lost power just 10 minutes into Sunday’s clash with Tipperary were only reconnected after 10am yesterday. It was their second power cut in the space of a week.

The ESB said damage has been caused by lightning strikes on lines in the area. It says the precise locations of the faults have not been identified. ESB staff were walking one 10km-long line in Kilkenny yesterday, searching for breaks.

The extra demand created in both areas by people switching on televisions simultaneously could have added to the strain on the system over the weekend and put extra pressure on sections of damaged lines.

The ESB is planning a €4 billion upgrade of its lines over the next five years.

While planned interruptions to supply will be necessary when the new lines are being installed, it should mean fewer cuts in the future.

“Customers could have four planned outages over a two-week period while the work is continuing. But when the work is over, we will have a better quality of supply. The short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain,” said Mr MacDermott.