‘Expensive’ underground cables only to be used as ‘last resort’
The regulator has also strongly urged the Government to develop an efficient regulatory process to facilitate the development of new infrastructure amid concerns about the security of future energy supplies. The CER’s view, which is contained in its response to the Government’s Green Paper on Energy, published earlier this summer, adds weight to EirGrid’s preferred option of using overhead power lines for three major projects to upgrade the country’s electricity network, despite strong opposition from anti- pylon protests in many parts of the country.
However, Independent MEP Marian Harkin accused the energy regulator of displaying a worrying ignorance and disregard for many issues by opposing underground cables purely on the basis of cost.
