ESB Networks teams are currently mobilising to restore electricity supply to 725,000 homes, farms and businesses without power
There has been unprecedented, widespread and extensive damage to electricity infrastructure with power outages nationwide affecting approx. 725,000 customers as of 12.30pm
The worst of Storm Éowyn has now passed for most of the country but with Met Éireann wind warnings remaining in place further outages may still arise
An Important Public Safety Message: If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999
ESB Networks crews and partner contractors are now deployed where safe to do so, to assess the network and work to safely restore power as quickly as possible in challenging conditions
Given the predicted extent of the damage nationwide, we anticipate full restoration will take more than a week in the worst impacted areas. Estimated restoration times (ERTs) will only be provided once our teams have assessed network faults and these will be available to view throughout Saturday on www.PowerCheck.ie.
Extreme, damaging and destructive winds associated with Storm Éowyn have continued to cause widespread and extensive damage to the electricity network across the country with approx. 725,000 homes, farms and businesses (as at 12.30pm) without power. The damage nationwide to the electricity network and impact on customers is unprecedented.
The worst of Storm Éowyn has now passed for most of the country but with Met Éireann Status Red and Orange wind warnings remaining in place in parts until later this afternoon, further power outages may still arise as the storm continues to track northwards.
ESB Networks continue to closely monitor the storm impact on power supplies and all available resources including crews and partner contractors are now deployed where safe to do so, to assess the network and work to safely restore power as quickly as possible in challenging conditions.
From our experience of previous significant weather events and due to the severity of Storm Éowyn, we expect that power restoration will take a significant number of days and will take more than a week in the worst impacted areas.
It is important that any impacted customers who use electrically powered medical devices contact their healthcare professional to make alternative arrangements if necessary.
Given the extent of the damage nationwide estimated restoration times (ERTs) will only be provided once our teams have assessed network faults and these will then be available to view throughout Saturday on www.PowerCheck.ie.
Our Customer Contact Centre Agents will be supporting customers throughout Storm Éowyn but will not be in a position to provide outage information until the network assessment has been fully conducted. To note, a technical issue earlier today due to unprecedented volumes on ESB websites, including www.PowerCheck.ie, has now been fully resolved.
An Important Public Safety Message: If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.