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Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Very concerned': Regulator sets deadline for Uisce Éireann to provide data on leaks, sewage overflows and supply issues
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has given the water company until the end of June to hand over the data. In a letter to Uisce Éireann, the CRU said there had been problems getting details from it since 2020 and it was now 'very concerned'. 'Uisce Éireann's failure to report on these metrics means the utility is non-complaint with the current regulatory framework,' the letter said. 'These metrics, particularly security of supply, are of key interest to the Uisce Éireann board, its customers, developers and stakeholders including local, indigenous and international industry. 'Accurate, timely and complete reporting assists customers, stakeholders and the CRU to understand which areas of the network are most at risk and require targeted investment. 'Uisce Éireann's failure to provide this information to date hinders customers' and the CRU's ability to understand the utility's full performance.' The letter acknowledged that Uisce Éireann was 'engaging with the CRU' on the matter but also set a June 30 deadline. In a statement in response, Uisce Éireann said it 'notes' the CRU's assessment, which came in two reports published yesterday. 'These reports assess the utility's performance against a wide range of metrics as set by the CRU, and provide information on water/wastewater services,' it said. 'In the Performance Assessment Framework report, the CRU recognises the progress being made by Uisce Éireann across a range of areas, while also acknowledging that challenges remain in relation to certain targets. 'Where targets have yet to be achieved, Uisce Éireann is committed to meeting these in the shortest possible timeframe.' The company did not commit to providing the outstanding information by the June deadline. The CRU reports annually on Uisce Éireann's performance and these latest assessments relate to the utility's work in 2023, when almost €2bn was spent on water and wastewater services. 'This significant investment by Uisce Éireann is welcomed and delivered certain improvements,' the CRU said. It said, however, there were areas of 'underperformance and required improvement' and that continued heavy investment was needed.
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Leitrim Left in the Dark: Communities endure 40 or 50 power outages over past five years
Communities across Co Leitrim are being impacted by regular and reoccurring power outages with some households experiencing an accumulative month without power over a five year period. It has been claimed that homes and businesses in various areas are being serviced by an unreliable power supply resulting in 40 or 50 power outages over the past five years. During Storm Darragh some homes were without power for up to a week, while Storm Éowyn caused a two week outage in some parts of the county. However, the power outages are not limited to the affects of a storm. Cllr Maeve Reynolds said the issues impacting power supply in Leitrim have been ongoing long before the storms. 'In the Drumsna and Kilnagross areas, people are experiencing regular and sustained electricity outages, year after year, storm or no storm. 'These are not occasional disruptions, these are reoccurring outages. 'Some people have been without electricity for accumulative of a month over the past five years. 'It might have been two weeks with Storm Éowyn and seven days with storm Darragh, but there could be out on 40 or 50 power outages over the past five years,' said Cllr Reynolds. It is believed the lines most affected by the power outages run through heavily forested areas and there is a need to cut back forest vegetation growing near powerlines. Cllr Reynolds said the 'unpredictability' and 'a lack of continuity' of the power supply can cause great stress for people living in the area and those operating businesses. 'If your line goes through a mature forest, generally a Sitka Spruce forest, there is a whole host of reasons but if a forest is not being maintained or the trees are planted close to the power line, due to the shallow root system, there doesn't need to be a storm or heavy winds that knocks over a tree. 'If it is just one outage, it will be fixed sooner and the power might only be out for a couple of hours, but when there is a storm and everyone else is out too, they could be left out for days or weeks. 'It happens without warning and it is not just households, it is businesses too. If businesses are impacted they have to shut their doors and send staff home, while remote workers are unable to do their jobs,' said Cllr Reynolds. Cllr Reynolds has raised the issue at various junctures and three delegations from Leitrim met with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Healy-Rae to raise the ongoing issues. However, no assurances were given for a resolution into the issue. In her latest motion to Leitrim County Council, Cllr Reynolds called for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to attend a meeting of Leitrim County Council. 'One of their biggest responsibilities is the protection of consumers and ensuring that electricity supplies remain safe and reliable. 'A reliable power supply is something that customers in Leitrim have not enjoyed for past number of years. 'The reality is that we are all so dependent on electricity and it has been government policy to encourage us to be more dependent on electricity especially for people who have air to water heating or those who rely on power for water supply, medical equipment or the basics of day to day life,' said Cllr Reynolds. Cllr Reynolds has questioned what is going to be done to address the repeated failures and what infrastructure improvements are planned for the county. She also believes it is important the trees within close distance of power lines are removed further back to prevent further outages due to fallen trees. Cllr Reynolds said some households who applied for the humanitarian assistance scheme still haven't been paid, nearly four months after Storm Éowyn. She said there needs to be scheme in place that streamlines compensating households. 'If we look at our neighbours like Scottish Power, they have a system in place that if there is a long outage of over 48 hours, there is a fixed fee of compensation for what you are paid. 'That would have made it a lot easier for households. 'If we knew there was a compensation process in place in advance, then at least people would understand they could go out and have a meal because they are going to be getting the money back. 'People just weren't eating because they did not know if they were going to be compensated for eating out for two weeks. 'If we could know that there is support and compensation in place for when inevitably this happens again, it would make the lives of people who are dealing with the aftermath of the storm a lot easier,' said Cllr Reynolds.
The Journal
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Government called on to ensure electricity suppliers offer customers dynamic energy price plans
THE GOVERNMENT AND the regulator 'must ensure' that electricity suppliers offer customers price plans with a view to reducing emissions and saving money, the Climate Change Advisory Council has said. Dynamic electricity price tariffs are present when the price for electricity varies throughout the day and the price changes reflect the wholesale market price. It is also known as 'real-time pricing'. Essentially, a customer availing of such dynamic pricing will be able to see the price of a half-hour using electricity. Due to factors like low demand and excess renewable energy on the grid, certain times will prove cheaper for customers to utilise appliances that use larger amounts of electricity – such as using a washing machine, dishwasher, the oven, etc. Dynamic energy pricing works on the basis of having three components: two fixed amounts (a standing charge and a basic unit rate charge), and the variable dynamic unit charge. Advertisement These tariffs have been described by the UCD Energy Institute as 'a step forward' in 'improving economic efficiency, promoting variable renewable generation sources, and providing choice to customers'. Legislation enacted in 2022 entitles customers to enter into a dynamic price contract. However, no supplier has yet made this available to customers. In September 2024, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities decided that electricity suppliers would be required to offer customers a Standard Dynamic Price Contract by 1 October 2025. However, this deadline was recently extended until 1 June 2026. The Climate Change Advisory Council said that this was 'disappointing'. The council also highlighted that targets for emissions reductions have not been met and urged the government to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy to allow Ireland to ease its reliance on fossil fuels. It said that investment and political attention is needed as regards the national energy grid, citing damage caused by storms Darragh and Éowyn. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
