Anger as ESB gets its wires crossed

February 2001

There’s only one thing worse than getting a notice from the ESB giving you advance warning of a power cut for the purpose of repairs. That’s geting the warning, making alternative arrangements at great trouble and expense, but then seeing nothing happening at all.

So pity the poor householders and in particular the businesses of Taghmon, who received such a notice in large numbers a fortnight ago, advising them that their electricity would be cut off for most of last Thursday while service improvements would be carried out.

The day arrived, and everyone braced themselves for seven hours without power. The school had decided to close for the day so many parents had to make childminding arrangements at short notice, while a number of businesses also elected to close and give staff the day off, therefore taking a financial hit on the back of the scheduled power cut.

Nine o’clock came, ten o’clock, then eleven. No sign of the power cut. In fact, it never happened. Even more annoying was the failure of the ESB to tell people what was happening.

One local resident telephoned the Wexford ESB office shortly before lunchtime to find out why plans had changed. ‘I don’t know. Maybe they were called out to an emergency instead,’ was the response.

Another person also rang, and was told that maybe it was because the scheduled work couldn’t be carried out because it was raining.

This is the second time in the past four months for this to happen in the Taghmon area and many locals are saying ‘it’s just not good enough’.