An estimated 5,500 customers are without power in County Tipperary as ESB Networks are facing huge challenges in restoring electricity supply to all customers following last Friday’s wind storm which resulting in 768,000 customers losing supply.
As of Sunday Evening ESB Networks has restored supply to 490,000 homes, farms and businesses – 278,000 customers remain without supply. As repairs continue, the company accepts that, approximately 100,000 customers, will be without power until the next week on February 5th and 6th.
Support is being received from Great Britain and ESB networks requested further support from electricity network operators across Europe. The outage has impacted on water, heating, lighting, cooking, broadband and financial payment systems. In some parts, including in Tipperary faults that are on low voltage lines serving only an individual or smaller group of customers will be the last to be repaired.
Customers are advised to to sign up for the “Keep me Notified” service for power outages on the website www.PowerCheck.ie to receive status updates directly.
Local authorities are to establish emergency response hubs in the worst hit areas. The National Emergency Co-ordination Group said that these hubs will support people with “basic needs such as water, hot food, phone charging, broadband access, shower and clothes washing facilities”.
Councils will also continue to manage local coordination groups in order to coordinate available supports including the Department of Social Protection’s Humanitarian Assistance Scheme