# ESB
This month
November 2023
Around 12,000 homes and businesses still without power in wake of Storm Debi
Status Red and Orange warnings were issued for many counties early yesterday but they expired by the afternoon.
Around 34,000 homes and businesses without power after Storm Debi hits country
At present the worst-affected areas are Athlone, Cavan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Longford, Mullingar and Tuam.
This year
2023
Over 1,000 homes and businesses still without power after Storm Agnes
There are currently no weather warnings in place, but showers are expected this afternoon.
ESB Group reports 30% rise in profits to €676 million in first six months of the year
The state-owned energy company said its profits from the start of the year to 30 June had increased by €157 million compared to the same period last year.
Meta paying back sizeable electricity bill after ESB error saw firm undercharged for 18 months
FOI records detail how two new transformers that were installed at Meta’s data centre site in Clonee, Co Meath were never properly set up for billing.
ESB warns public to beware of dangers of swimming in reservoirs
The company said there is a risk of deep and fast-flowing waters, changing water levels and uneven ground.
Hundreds of ESB customers remain without power following thunderstorms last night
Parts of Oldbawn, Co Dublin, and Tullow, Co Carlow may not have electricity for a few more hours.
ESB's operating profits increase to €847 million 'due to impact of higher wholesale prices'
It’s a €168 million increase on operating profits in 2021.
ESB ‘being given free pass’ to divert water without ecological assessments
An Taisce expert says new legislation that impacts rivers and lakes used for hydroelectricity is ‘categorically unlawful’.
'Death by a thousand cuts': Hydropower killing, injuring and trapping fish by the tonne
Noteworthy investigates barriers along the River Shannon as deaths recorded at ESB stations and salmon hatcheries.
Huge declines in fish stocks have occurred over the last century
Fish passes on many rivers are not fit for purpose, with experts calling for removal of obsolete barriers
Ecologists and community members are lamenting decades of government and ESB inaction
Almost one in 20 dwellings in Ireland were vacant in last three months of 2021
Leitrim was the Local Authority with the highest vacancy rate at 10.6% in Q4 2021, while South Dublin had the lowest at 1.%.
Over 16,000 customers left without power in north Dublin and Meath this evening due to faults
Most customers have since had their power restored, however.
Thousands of homes without power following strong winds overnight
ESB customers can check the status of outages in their area using the PowerCheck tool.
Last year
2022
Hundreds of homes left without power across Leinster and Munster
There are approximately 650 homes without power across the country.
Electric Ireland to give all residential customers €50 credit
Pay-as-you-go customers will receive the credit this week, and bill-pay customers will see it in January.
East Wall: Donohoe says residents raised 'important and sensitive' matters relating to housing of refugees
Protests have taken place in East Wall this week.
ESB takes court action to fight release of transcript in pylon CPO compensation case
The ESB had been ordered to release a transcript of negotiations for compensation previously.
125,000 Electric Ireland customers in arrears as company told €3m hardship fund is 'pittance'
The company’s hardship fund, which is there to aid customers struggling to pay bills, will be reviewed into the winter.
Oireachtas Committee to hear Electric Ireland had 'no choice' but to increase energy prices
The provider will answer questions from TDs and Senators on the recent gas and electricity price increases tomorrow.
Explainer: How can energy profits and wholesale prices both be on the rise?
ESB is the latest energy company to announce a large after-tax profit.
Taoiseach says 'much higher' ESB dividend to be taken as after-tax profits hit €390 million
The company recorded a jump from €128 million in the first half of 2021 to €390 million in the same period this year.
Status Orange thunderstorm warning for most of the country today as heatwave breaks
A nationwide Status Orange thunderstorm warning is due to lapse at 9am this morning.
Blackout in Temple Bar leaves over 600 customers without power
ESB Networks have said that it has affected more than 610 customers and they are working to solve the problem at Bedford Row.
ESB to create 1,000 jobs over three years as part of net zero by 2040 pledge
The jobs will be across a diverse range of skills from HR to marine biology.
Thousands of homes reconnected to the grid, but 44,000 remain without power after Storm Eunice
Some weather warnings remain in effect for Ireland with severe gusts experienced across the country.
All time
Incoming cold snap looks likely to bring inflated Irish energy bills with it in early 2022
The arrival of freezing temperatures in parts of Europe will likely increase European demand for natural gas.
The arrival of freezing temperatures in parts of Europe will likely increase European demand for natural gas.
While the forecast for Ireland is comparatively mild, supplies of gas are in relatively short supply across Europe due to a number of factors.
This could further increase wholesale gas prices, in turn, fueling electricity and gas bill hikes as soon as January.
ESB Networks is reminding people not to take risks with electricity this Christmas
The company is warning people never to use ESB Networks poles to hang outdoor Christmas lights as the electricity wires overhead are live and extremely dangerous.
3,000 remain without power in wake of Storm Barra
The ESB said it’s mainly customers in parts of Kerry, Sligo and Leitrim who are still dealing with faults.
Storm Barra: 13,000 without power and 10,000 facing water supply issues amid clean-up operation
ESB Networks said it is continuing to restore power to as many customers as possible tonight, but many will be without supply overnight.
Further high winds last night left thousands of homes, farms and businesses without power and water.
Some people may remain without power into tomorrow.
Six Boil Water Notices are currently in effect in various parts of the country.
ESB warn some customers to be left without electricity overnight as 38,000 remain without power
Most parts of the country are experiencing strong and gusty winds.
Two big power stations disconnected from the national grid on Monday night in rare 'one-off' event
The national grid operator said two power stations tripping almost simultaneously is a rare, “one-off” event.
The 'tripping' of the two stations resulted in the loss of 820 megawatts of power to the grid.
This was the equivalent of 20% of the total national demand for electricity at that time.
A spokesperson for EirGrid said the incident was unrelated to ongoing issues around security of electricity supply.
Eamon Ryan did not sanction €10m emergency power contract payment, says spokesperson
The Dáil heard claims that EirGrid made a €10 million payment to ESB for a contract that was never completed.
'How did this happen?' Dáil hears further concerns about €10m emergency power contract payment
Last week, TD Barry Cowen alleged that the ESB may have “orchestrated” the current energy crisis for its own benefit.
Barry Cowen claims the ESB may have ‘orchestrated’ the current energy crisis
Cowen asked why the ESB is being rewarded “handsomely despite exacerbating the supply shortage”.
Supply and demand: What's behind the surge in Irish and European energy prices this year?
Demand for gas and electricity has surged this year as economies reopened and businesses ramped back up.
Demand for gas and electricity has surged this year as economies reopened and businesses ramped back up.
European benchmark gas prices have tripled as a result.
The problems have been exacerbated in Ireland by the temporary closure of two gas-fired power stations.
ESB warns public of dangers of swimming in reservoirs
The company has said there is a risk of deep and fast-flowing waters, changing water levels and uneven ground
ESB warns of dangers of swimming in reservoirs ahead of bank holiday weekend
Reservoirs are not safe for swimming due to the risk of fast-flowing water and uneven ground.
ESB claims strike by Independent Workers Union is unlawful
The IWU are taking the action over a claimed lack of consultation on outsourced work to the private sector.
Foundations of iconic Poolbeg chimneys at risk of corrosion due to presence of sulphur
The ESB plans to carry out intrusive works on the towers this year.
The ESB said chemical analysis undertaken last year identified the presence of the corrosive element.
It's planned works will be carried out on the iconic chimneys this year, Cónal Thomas reports.
Councillor Dermot Lacey has called for the towers to be protected and repainted.
