ESB stages ‘think-in’ on energy plans

ESB board members are holding a ‘think-in’ in the midlands to assess the Government’s energy white paper, which could see the sell-off of a big part of its business and trigger a union response of national power cuts.

It is expected that, after weeks of deliberation, the 12 board members will finally issue their position on the controversial Energy White Paper, which would see the transfer of the electricity transmission grid from the ESB to EirGrid.

The unions, representing 6,000 ESB workers, have said they will take industrial action as soon as the Government takes any steps to transfer the assets.

Such an action would almost certainly see power cuts nationwide as the unions feel it will devalue the company, will not create competition in the electricity market and so will not reduce prices for the consumer.

The unions are insisting that the minister behind the document, Noel Dempsey, rip it up and completely renegotiate it.

The minister is equally adamant that, after two years of consultation, he will push it through over the next 18 months.

For several weeks, the unions have been demanding that the ESB board come out publicly and state whether it backs the stance of the employees.

Last month, the board met on the subject, but stopped short of saying it needed more time to assess the implications for its value and commercial viability.

Meanwhile, ESB management will meet with the unions today to discuss the closure of plants around the country.

By June 30, the company must detail to the Commission for Energy Regulation, the plants which it will close.

On November 29, the ESB entered into an agreement with the commission saying it would reduce its market share in the Irish power generation market by 2010.

In return for, among other things, the closure or divestment of 1,300MW of existing power plants, the commission authorised the construction of ESB’s proposed new plant at Aghada, Co Cork.

In signing the deal, the ESB agreed to create a detailed implementation plan to be agreed with the commission no later than June 30.

The plants that are to be closed or sold, could be bought up by private companies interested in entering the Irish market

However, Brendan Ogle of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union said they were opposed to the closures.

“No companies have been approved for permission to build in a way that will replace the 1,300 megawatts that the ESB wants to divest,” he said.