Portlaoise at 'immediate grid capacity' for electricity with work underway

Rapidly growing Portlaoise town has maxed out its electricity usage, with urgent work underway to solve an “immediate grid capacity issue”.

Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey revealed the extent of the issue at the council's monthly meeting on Monday, July 28.
He says that a new substation is needed to meet the town's needs.

The electricity shortage was highlighted recently in the Leinster Express / Laois Live by homebuyers who cannot get into their expensive new homes because electricity cannot be connected.

Mr Rainey gave an update on what is being done to address the power shortage.

“I'm meeting the ESB monthly. They've responded. Before this came into the media, we were well aware of infrastructural constraints. This is a national problem.

“But there is an immediate grid capacity issue right now in Portlaoise. There are works underway in Portlaoise substation to resolve this. It will be resolved in a couple of weeks.

“However this town needs a further substation. We're actively engaged with the ESB,” the Laois CEO said.

He emphasises however that “Laois is open for business”.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald raised the issue, calling for a meeting with ESB Networks and Uisce Éireann.

“We need a meeting very shortly with the ESB and Irish Water. We need to look for future infrastructure for Laois and Portlaoise in particular. We saw the episode where people bought houses but can't get electricity. I'm informed that the Mountrath Road is a blackspot for electricity. That's where we have our IDA. We always had difficulty getting investment. If we have no electricity we have no hope at all.

“What's the point of zoning land if we don't have the infrastructure to go along with it?

“We are hanging on a thread here, going from piece to piece. I am calling for a special meeting and get the ESB and Irish Water to join us and see what we as a council can do to help. We need to know as councillors.

“There is going to be no electricity for new developments. We won't have a hope of an IDA factory,” she warned.

Read also: Pricey Portlaoise apartments replacing derelict hotel must be funded by state

A Portlaoise couple are among 80 families who have been unable to move into their new homes at the Sand Wood development in Summerhill, Portlaoise, because it hasn’t been connected by the ESB.

Andrew and Julie Dollard have handed over a €48,000 deposit, and are also paying rent on a two bedroom apartment in Portlaoise and have also had to fork out to store their new furniture for the home meant to be ready last February or March. Their mortgage approval was also on the point of elapsing.

“It is absolutely horrific. It is just a pure and utter sh*t show and nobody wants to hold their hands up,” he told the Leinster Express/Laois Live this month. Read that full story here.