ESB Networks Continues Power Restoration After Devastation of Storm Éowyn

ESB Networks has restored power to 729,000 customers, with 39,000 still affected after Storm Éowyn.

Cork Safety Alerts

02 Feb 2025 — 2 min read

ESB Networks has made significant progress in restoring electricity following the unprecedented impact of Storm Éowyn, which caused widespread and extensive damage to power infrastructure across the country.

As of 5:20 pm on Sunday, supply has been restored to 729,000 homes, farms, and businesses, leaving approximately 39,000 customers still without power, down from the peak of 768,000 outages.

Ongoing Restoration Efforts

ESB Networks crews, supported by international technicians from Austria, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, are working tirelessly to repair the most severe faults. Over 2,500 local crews and contractors, along with 1,300 support staff, are managing damage assessment, emergency calls, logistics, and network operations.

While progress continues, some customers in heavily affected areas may experience changing estimated restoration times as work advances. Customers are advised to check www.PowerCheck.ie for the latest updates.

Additionally, some customers whose power has been restored may experience brief outages while engineers reconnect neighbouring homes. These temporary disconnections are necessary to safely restore power across the network.

Public Safety Warning

As efforts to restore power enter their seventh day, ESB Networks is urging the public to remain cautious. Reports have emerged of dangerous incidents where individuals have unknowingly approached fallen electricity infrastructure, particularly in hard-hit areas.

Key safety advice includes:

⛔

Do not touch or approach damaged infrastructure.

Avoid fallen power lines – they may still be live and extremely dangerous.
Report all hazards immediately by calling 1800 372 999.

Severe weather debris, including fallen trees and branches, may be hiding live electrical wires—posing a critical risk to public safety.

Advice for Affected Customers

ESB Networks acknowledges the significant disruption to families and businesses and thanks customers for their patience. Those relying on electrically powered medical devices are urged to contact their healthcare provider for alternative arrangements if needed.

Customers are also advised to sign up for the “Keep Me Notified” service on www.PowerCheck.ie to receive updates on power outages by entering their Eircode and registered mobile number.

Generator and Scam Warnings

ESB Networks has received reports of unsafe generator use. Customers are urged to watch the official generator safety video for guidance.

Additionally, there have been scam text messages claiming to be from ESB Networks. Customers should not engage, share personal information, or click on any links and are encouraged to block and report suspicious numbers.

How Power is Restored After a Storm

The restoration process follows a systematic and prioritised approach:

Making Safe: Crews first isolate fallen power lines and hazardous infrastructure.
Remote Switching: Where possible, supply is restored remotely through alternative power lines.
Damage Assessment: Technicians assess the full extent of network damage before initiating repairs.
High Voltage Repairs: The first priority is to restore transmission and medium voltage distribution lines, which return power to the largest number of customers.
Low Voltage Repairs: Smaller faults affecting individual homes and local clusters are addressed last, often requiring time-consuming repairs such as removing debris, fallen trees, and broken poles.