Storm Éowyn costs 'will not be added to customer ESB bills'

French crews arriving at Rosslare Europort on January 29 to help the ESB Networks with the mammoth task of reconnecting subscribers in the wake of Storm Éowyn. Picture: Fennell's 

The cost of repairs from Storm Éowyn will not be passed on to customers in this year’s electricity prices, ESB Networks has confirmed.

Earlier this week, the group’s chief executive said cleanup from the storm would likely cost “tens of millions” which eventually will “find their way back into the overall cost of our distribution system network”.

Paddy Hayes was heavily critised for his remarks made during the interview on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne. 

Approximately 5,500 customers remained without power on Friday evening, a fortnight on from Storm Éowyn, which wreaked havoc on the country and cut power to more than 760,000 homes, farms and businesses.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Hayes apologised to customers still stranded in the aftermath of the storm.

“I had absolutely no intention of being insensitive or adding to the stress facing customers at this difficult time. " 

I should have made it clear that it is far too early either to assess the costs of repairing the damage caused by this storm, or to address how those costs will be met. 

The costs of repairs from Storm Éowyn will not impact on electricity prices during 2025. In the longer term, the Regulator will review these with ESB Networks before network charges from October 2026 onwards are determined.

Customers in the worst hit areas of the country still remain without power due to the extent and the nature of the damage caused by hurricane-force winds of Storm Éowyn. 

Profits at the ESB — the semi-State company incorporating ESB Networks, the entity responsible for maintaining Ireland's power grid — jumped by more than 33% to €868m in 2023. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the ESB said it was “not yet possible to give a more precise estimate” of what the repair costs for Éowyn would be.

Any prospective increase to customers would be delivered by the relevant utility supplier on foot of an increase in the charges levied on them by ESB Networks and EirGrid.