APPENDIX 19
Memorandum submitted by Electricity Supply
Board
The storm of 26 December caused extensive damage
to ESB networks and supply interruptions to customers, particularly
in Connaught, Ulster and North Leinster. Operating staff and repair
crews worked over the following six days to repair damaged networks
and restore supply to the affected customers. The storm, with
gusts up to 111 mph recorded, was the worst to hit the north of
the country for over 35 years and maximum wind speeds were on
a par with those of hurricane "Debbie" in 1961.
At its peak on 26 December, 185,000 customers,
representing 12.5 per cent of our customer base, lost supply and
the progress of supply restoration was as set out below:
| Supply restored to | Still without supply overnight
|
| | |
| | |
| 26 December | 85,000 | 100,000
|
| 27 December | 40,000 | 60,000
|
| 28 December | 35,000 | 25,000
|
| 29 December | 13,000 | 12,000
|
| 30 December | 10,000 | 2,000
|
| 31 December | 1,800 | 200
|
| 1 January | 200 | —
|
In our Northern Region, which includes Ulster counties, North
Connaught and North Leinster 40 per cent of customers lost supply.
The main locations were as follows:
| Counties | Number of customers
without supply
|
|
| |
| Sligo Branch (includes Donegal, Sligo Leitrim and North Mayo)
| 57,000 |
| Galway Branch (includes Counties Galway and South Mayo)
| 30,000 |
| Dundalk Branch (includes Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath)
| 42,000 |
| Athlone Branch (includes Counties Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly)
| 35,000 |
Compensation was not paid to customers who suffered extended
outages due to this extreme event. In line with our Customer Charter,
we normally make payments when customers lose supply for longer
than 24 hours. However, this guarantee does not apply to major
storms where, through circumstances largely outside our control,
there is likely to be extensive disruption to our networks. In
these circumstances we commit ourselves to doing everything possible
to restore supply as soon as possible.
22 March 1999
|
