The energy regulator is developing contingency plans, to ensure that there is enough electricity to meet demand, if private industry fails to deliver on key projects.
Regulator Mr Tom Reeves and the ESB National Grid are drawing up the plans. The National Grid is charged with distributing electricity through the national network.
There are two key power station projects under way - Tynagh Energy and Aughinish Alumina, which last year were awarded contracts to build two new power stations.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), led by Mr Reeves, has denied the initiative has been prompted by concerns over the Tynagh group completing its project in time.
Under the plan, ESB National Grid will be asked to acquire sites, get grid connections and apply for planning permission. The process usually takes two years.
Instead of depending on private industry, ESB National Grid would build temporary or "peaking" stations on this land and any shortfall in electricity supply could be addressed.
The CER calls the contingency plan Fast Build. "We will intervene if the market is not responding," said a spokesman for the CER yesterday.
He said the final details of the plan were still being worked out, but it was "prudent" to have emergency measures in place in case private industry was unable to fill the gaps.
He said the Tynagh project was progressing on time and various milestones had been passed.
A spokesman for ESB National Grid said it would be pleased to work with the CER on putting in place such contingency plans.
He said ESB National Grid would meet CER to discuss the details of the proposals and "to ascertain if amending legislation would be required to enable ESB National Grid to have the powers to develop the new peaking power stations". He pointed out that the grid operator did not currently have this legislative power.
ESB National Grid said in its last generation adequacy report that there was a vital need for new generation in the next few years.
"We look forward to facilitating the request of CER to make preliminary investigations in relation to site acquisition, tendering for equipment and contractors, and applying for planning and licensing permits," said the National Grid spokesman. "Through our work of developing and maintaining the power system, we have the expertise necessary for the management of the planning, design and construction of such a project," he added.
Modern peaking stations are different from full-scale power plants. The peaking plants are used for extra capacity during peak months of the year. They can be assembled on hard concrete stands and run for short periods when the power system is stretched.
"We emphasise that these new power stations would only be built at the direction of the CER and would, at its direction, be operated and then sold on when no longer necessary," he said.
