What To Do in an ESB Power Outage

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

If you believe you are experiencing a power outage, you can contact ESB Networks on 1800 372 999 to report an incidence. A power outage could be as a result of scheduled maintenance in the area by ESB networks or, in some cases, as a result of an electrical fault in the home. Power outages are unlikely to be caused by your electricity provider, but if you have a PAYG electricity plan, the outage could be as a result of not topping up your PAYG meter.

What Types of Power Outages Are There?

Power outages are where the power supply is either partially or completely cut off from our homes and businesses. Generally speaking, there are two types that will occur: planned and unplanned. 

These have different causes, and you should be aware of both so you’re aware of how long it might take to get your power back:

1. Planned 
   A planned power outage is usually a routine cut-off of the power supply by ESB networks so that they can carry out important maintenance on the grid or on ISEM. You will be informed ahead of time so you can make arrangements while the power is off.
2. Unplanned 
   Unplanned power outages are usually sudden and unexpected due to the line being damaged. These can go on for much longer than planned power cuts and are usually caused by weather conditions such as heavy snowfall, flooding or storms.

How Can I Tell I Have a Power Outage?

If your power goes out all of a sudden, it’s very likely that you’ve got a power outage. If you experience this, try not to panic, as there is often a very logical and rational reason for why it has occurred.

Here are the best ways to check a power outage in your area:

1. Ask Your Neighbours
   Though the power in your house might be out, you can always text or knock on your neighbour’s doors to find out what’s going on. You might not have access to your broadband network, but you might have access to your mobile network instead.
2. Check Your Fuse Box
   If you can't contact your neighbours, and it seems other homes in the area still have power, check your fuse box to see if your trip switch is in the 'on' position or if an appliance has blown a fuse.
3. Check the ESB Website
   The quickest way is to check the ESB website, where you can use the ESB power outage map. You can also have a look at the ESB network's Twitter or Facebook feeds to find out whether your outage is planned or not.

What Is the ESB Power Outage Map?

The ESB power outage map is an incredibly useful tool for checking whether you have a power outage in your area.

The map gives you a clear view of all the power issues that might be occurring in Ireland in real time. You can use your postcode to see if you have had a power outage near you, and you check on the status of a planned outage.

To check if there are any upcoming planned outages in your area, visit the ESB website to view the Power Outage Map by clicking here.

What Should I Do in a Power Outage?

When a power outage hits, it’s quite often unexpected, and it can be very frustrating, especially if you’re right in the middle of something.

Most power outages don't last too long, but it's important to be prepared for when they do happen. Here are some essential items to keep in your home in case of a power outage in your area:

• ⚡ Selectra's Power Outage Prep Kit
• Lighting - Torches and rechargeable lanterns as safer alternatives to candles.
• Heating - Blankets and warm jumpers can help keep you warm while the heating is off.
• Electronics - A rechargeable power bank can help you keep your phone charged to be able to contact people and access the internet.
• Food - Stock up on non-perishable food that can be eaten without cooking.
• Money - Keep some cash on hand to be able to buy food and fuel, as ATM's and online banking may not be accessible.

What Do I Need To Do in a Power Outage?

In a power outage, you should make sure you do the following:

• Turn Off Your Electrical Appliances
  Turn off all your electrical appliances to prevent them from short-circuiting before the power comes back on. You can always try turning a light on and off to see whether the power has come back on or not.
• Keep the Fridge Closed
  You should keep the fridge closed, so your food inside stays cold. In the event of a power outage, your food will remain cold for at least another 4 hours. If you open the fridge, you stop it from keeping your food insulated.
• Check Your Prepay Balance
  If you’re on a prepay meter and your power has just gone out, you can check your meter or online account to double-check whether you’ve just run out of credit. Make sure you top up regularly to avoid losing power.

What Should I Not Do During a Power Outage?

Of course, power outages can be dangerous situations that can cause all sorts of dangerous situations, so you should also be careful with what you do when it comes to a blackout. Here’s a list of things you shouldn’t do:

• Don’t Use Candles
  Although it’s tempting to use candles, don’t use them as the primary source of light for your home during a power outage. With a lot of lit candles, you risk getting your house on fire. Only use candles sparingly for some light in your home.
• Don’t Try and Fix Your Mains
  It’s very likely not a problem with your mains if you have a power outage, so don’t try and fix it yourself. If you’re worried about your electricity supply being the main issue, contact a professional electrician to solve the problem for you.
• Don’t Leave Your Home Unsecured
  Don’t leave your home during a power cut. Usually during power outages, you’re more likely to experience a break in or a robbery, so try and stay at home until the power comes back on.
• Don’t Use Generators Indoors
  If you have an independent generator, don’t use it indoors, since they can exhaust toxic fumes like carbon monoxide into your home. If you need to use one, use it outside.

How Long Does A Power Outage Last For?

Depending on what is causing the power outage, we can estimate the time it will take for your power to be restored:

• Planned maintenance - These outages normally last only a few hours to minimise disruption to the area. 
• Damage to power infrastructure due to extreme weather - These outages take longer to fix, several hours or even days, given that often engineers must wait until weather conditions improve before conducting repairs to damaged power lines.
• Electrical fault at home - Depending on the availability of an electrician and the nature of the problem, a few hours to a day. 
• Running out of PAYG credits - Once you top up or request emergency credits, your power is normally instantly restored.

What About Vulnerable Customers in a Power Outage?

ESB networks has a policy in place for vulnerable customers. When you sign up to an energy supplier, you will be asked whether you will want to put on the register to be identified as a priority in case of a power outage.

This registration is also a requirement from the CRU. You’ll also get advanced warning in the case of planned outages communicated to you by ESB networks. This is all part of the ESB networks' vulnerable customer policy.

For many vulnerable customers, having a reliable energy supply is extremely important if they need it for medical equipment such as a life support machine.

How Can I Contact ESB Networks?

If you discover that your power outage is not part of planned maintenance and seems to only be affecting your home, you can contact ESB Networks on 1800 372 999 to report the incidence.

To ensure privacy of information and to be able to identify your home easily, the ESB recommend providing the following when reporting the incident:

• Eircode
• Phone number
• MPRN number
• Name associated to your electricity account

Be careful of the call-out fee! You may be liable for a callout fee of up to €136 if the issue ends up being your appliances or your fuse box, and not an ESB-related issue. Make absolutely sure that all your appliances are working perfectly before reporting an issue to ESB networks!