Swathes of downed forestry have had an impact on recovery from Storm Éowyn, ESB Networks has acknowledged, with 18,000 properties still without power almost two weeks on.
Drone photographs of fallen trees in Newbridge, east Co Galway, show the scale of the damage in some areas.
Approximately 11 per cent of Ireland is covered with forests, of which, more than 80 per cent are coniferous plantations.
A spokesman said ESB Networks was “aware of areas where forestry has significantly impacted on our network and supply to our customers”, and that it was important to ensure that Department of Agriculture forestry guidelines are adhered to in order to protect supply.
“We look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure the reafforestation programme does not adversely impact our customers. ESB Networks is committed to playing our part in achieving the Government’s climate action targets,” he said.
Around 18,000 homes, farms, schools and businesses remained without power as of 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Storms are a serious risk factor for forestry in terms of the volume of damaged wood. Tree height is a big factor in whether a forest is likely to be affected, meaning coniferous forests such as the one documented near Newbridge are more likely to be damaged.
The ESB Networks spokesman said the company was working to restore connection to most customers “over the coming days” and recommended that if feasible, they should monitor www.powercheck.ie for estimated restoration times.
He said vulnerable customers without power would not automatically be prioritised for reconnection “due to the way in which power is restored”, but that they would be prioritised when they called its customer care number.
“We contact all vulnerable customers by SMS to notify them if they are without power overnight. We have been communicating daily with medically vulnerable customers through SMS daily during Storm Éowyn,” he said.
He said the company had been mobilising all available resources to reconnect those still without power, including drafting in technicians from Austria, Finland, France, the UK, Germany and Norway.
“They are supporting over 2,500 local ESB Networks crews and partner contactors who have been bolstered by colleagues from the south and east of the country, as well as skilled retirees,” he added.
The power grid manager has also doubled resources for its customer contact centre to accommodate an unprecedented number of calls, resulting in short call response times throughout the day and night for their customers, it said.
[ Insurers told they must handle Storm Éowyn claims surge quickly and fairlyOpens in new window ]
ESB Networks owns and operates the State’s electricity grid, delivering power to 2.4 million customers across more 150,000 kilometres of overhead power lines.
The latest electricity grid figures come as the insurance industry warns the bill for repairs in the aftermath of the storm could be up to €200 million.
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