PYLON CAMPAIGNERS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO EIRGRID’S ELECTRICITY GRID MANAGEMENT

The Co Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee, the campaign group opposing the construction of the north-south interconnector project using overground infrastructure, has issued a statement to the Northern Standard this week calling for an independent inquiry into EirGrid’s management and operation of Ireland’s electricity transmission grid. “The management of the electricity transmission grid for Ireland has been entrusted to EirGrid since July 2006 – they are a monopoly semi-State organisation which provide the power network for the most expensive electricity in Europe,” a spokesperson for the CMAPC stated.

“The closure of power plants and proliferation of data centres has given rise to the possibility that the demand for electricity could potentially outstrip the available supply in the near future. “The failure of the Government to agree on new gas-fired backup generators to provide the required capacity during periods of low wind has resulted in the outsourced procurement of expensive 660MW backup emergency generator supplies. The consumer is the ultimate bearer of the additional costs of the emergency backup facilities. “Co Monaghan Anti Pylon Committee is calling for an independent inquiry into the running and cost efficiency of EirGrid as Transmission System Operator to include the many failing and shortcomings identified….