ESB Networks Update: Approximately 12,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of 235,000 customers post-Storm Isha 

• All available ESB Networks and contractor resources deployed, with additional crews arriving from the UK this evening 
• We thank customers still without power for their patience. The easiest and most direct way for customers to get updates on estimated restoration times is via www.PowerCheck.ie and www.ESBNetworks.ie       
• Stay Safe, Stay Clear of fallen electricity wires. Report any damage to the network by calling 1800 372 999    

Issued: 5:15pm, Wednesday 24 January 2024 

Following on from the effects of storms Isha and Jocelyn, 12,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without power this evening. With a peak of over 235,000 customers without electricity on Monday morning, ESB Networks teams have also been restoring power to additional customers who lost power yesterday as a result of Storm Jocelyn.  

The areas most affected are predominantly in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Cavan and Longford. With significant progress made over the last 48 hours in the restoration effort, ESB Networks crews are working through faults on the low voltage network that have primarily affected single homes and small clusters of customers (see notes to editor on the restoration process below).  

All available ESB Networks resources are deployed, including crews and partner contractors who have travelled from less impacted areas of the country to assist in the restoration effort. For instance, crews from Cork are now deployed in Donegal assisting local colleagues there.  

Furthermore, over 50 skilled personnel from our UK counterparts in National Grid Electricity Distribution and UK Power Networks will arrive in Ireland this evening and be deployed in the worst impacted areas from tomorrow morning.    

It is important that any impacted customers who use electrically powered medical devices contact their healthcare professional to make alternative arrangements if necessary.     

We again apologise for the disruption to family and commercial life this causes, and thank customers across the country, especially those who will be without power again overnight, for their patience as our crews work to safely restore power.  

Real-time status on power restoration is being updated regularly and is available on www.PowerCheck.ie and www.ESBNetworks.ie.     

An Important Public Safety Message: If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they may be LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.   

Notes to editor:  

How ESB Networks restores power following a storm similar to Storm Isha: 

• Firstly, our crews make safe fallen, low hanging wires and other damage to electricity networks. This may mean that these lines have to be switched out until they can be repaired.
• Where possible, we restore supply remotely from our National Distribution Control Centre using alternative power lines where available.
•  Prior to initiating repairs works, our Network Technicians carry out full assessments of network damage, so that power can be restored systematically and safely. 
• Crews are initially dispatched to repair lines that will return service to the largest number of customers in the least amount of time. ESB Networks focusses initially on high voltage transmission and medium voltage distribution lines where significant numbers of customers can be brought back at once. 
• The next step is to restore the low voltage network that serves individual homes and smaller groups of customers. Typically, this is a slower process as there can be large numbers of small faults on a line serving a small cluster of customers, often less than ten properties. Each individual repair can be time consuming (clearing fallen trees, debris, broken poles etc) and only restores power to small customer numbers who are served by that low voltage line on the network.