20pc increase in power cuts in Wicklow with defective equipment and bird strikes causing some of the outages
There were 64,754 power cuts across Ireland in 2024, both planned and unplanned outages, representing a 22pc increase on 2023, where we had 53,067 power cuts.
Between 2021 and 2024, we have seen a 40pc increase in the number of power cuts, both planned and unplanned, across Ireland.
ESB Networks also provided MEP Ní Mhurchú with a breakdown of the reasons for the power cuts which included bird strikes, weather issues, lightening, overhead refurbishment, overloading, and corrosion. Of more concern was the large increase in power cuts which were attributed to 'defective equipment'.
Raising significant concerns about ESB Networks performance in relation to power cuts faced by domestic and business customers across Ireland, MEP Ní Mhurchú has called on ESB Networks to clarify why there is a 22pc jump, for a new system of compensation for householders and small businesses for outages lasting more than 12 hours and said that customers should not be charged for standing charges and levies when the power it out.
'The CRU, our regulator, has raised significant concerns about ESBN's performance in relation to unplanned outages and customer interruptions fining the utility millions for missing clearly set down targets,' Ní Mhurchú said.
'The ESB is a profitable company that should be prioritising increased investment in our electricity grid.
'My worry is that ESB Networks may be trying to cut costs by not investing in our electricity infrastructure to the extent that they should be. Power cuts have an enormous impact on families, in particular as many homes are now passive homes that depend on heat pumps and don't have open fires or stoves.
'Customers deserve an explanation as to why they are facing more power cuts when they are paying the second highest electricity prices in Europe. The least Irish customers deserve is more investment in the infrastructure that delivers that electricity'
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