HOW POWER RATIONING KICKS IN IF WE RUN OUT OF ENERGY
POWER blackouts will be introduced when the demand for electricity exceeds what is available.
The first sign that the lights are being switched off will be when Eirgrid issues a red alert after amber alerts to use less electricity have failed.
Under a plan already prepared by the ESB, Eirgrid will give the electricity provider at least 12 hours’ notice that it is going to shut off power.
And as soon as the red alert is issued this will prompt a meeting of the National Distribution Control Centre and networks emergency group. At this stage, large energy users will ideally be given at least an hour’s notice.
They will be asked to voluntarily stop using electricity.
But if they fail to oblige they will be disconnected.
However, in an emergency situation where there is a sudden and unexpected drop in available electricity there might not be sufficient time to give customers advance warning. Householders will be told about pending blackouts or power outages from news bulletins on national radio and television, newspapers reports, social media and the ESB website.
The first customers to be hit by these power outages will be high energy users.
However, Garda stations, prisons, national television and radio broadcasters, as well as train stations, the Defence Forces, airports, water treatment plants and Government departments will be exempt.
If the supply of power becomes critical, they too will be asked to voluntarily try to reduce how much electricity they use.
Ideally, the last people to have their power cut off will be households and families – and they will only be hit with blackouts if large industrial users do not significantly reduce how much electricity they are using.
In this scenario, a rota system will be introduced, so not every household in the country will be left without power at the same time.