Surge in power cuts leave Kerry residents in the dark as ESB is asked for answers
The ESB manage supply through what's known as 'planner groups' of which there are 34 in total that are linked to counties.
The Killarney planner group recorded a 43 per cent increase in power cuts between 2023 and 2024 – a jump from 1,612 in 2023 to 2,308 in 2024.
The Tralee planner group recorded a 15 per cent increase in power cuts for the same period, going from 1,558 to 1,796. It's thought the outages would also have impacted large numbers of properties on the outskirts of Kerry's two largest towns.
Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has raised what she calls 'significant concerns' about ESB Networks performance in relation to power cuts faced by domestic and business customers across Ireland.
Figures provided to Ms Ní Mhurchú by ESB Networks under Freedom of Information show significant year on year increases in power cuts across Ireland between 2021 and 2024.
She wants ESB Networks to clarify why there is a 22 per cent jump in power outages across the country between 2023 and 2024, saying a new system of compensation for householders and small businesses for outages lasting more than 12 hours should not be charged for standing charges and levies when the power is out.
'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,' she said.
"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,' she added.
Ms Ní Mhurchú said 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,' she said.
There were 64,754 power cuts across Ireland in 2024, both planned and unplanned outages representing a 22 per cent increase on 2023 where Ireland had 53,067 power cuts. Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland has seen a 40 per cent increase in the number of power cuts, both planned and unplanned.
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