Economy Minister holds power restoration meetings
Date published:
Economy Minister Conor Murphy this afternoon met with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Michael Shanks MP to discuss power restoration efforts following Storm Éowyn.
Speaking afterwards Minister Murphy said:
“I thanked Minister Shanks for ensuring that the English Distribution Companies are prioritising delivery of the established mutual aid agreements between them and NIE Networks. There are already 52 engineers from England scheduled to arrive today, 30 of which will be utilised by NIE and 22 will assist ESB Networks in the south, with further additional resources to follow.”
Minister Murphy also met with NIE management to access what additional support they require and to thank all the NIE engineers and their contractors involved in the restoration efforts.
He said:
“NIE has been working tirelessly since the end of the Red Alert yesterday afternoon, already restoring the supply to around 100,000 homes.
“This storm is unprecedented with over 280,000 premises losing supply compared to the previous worst event in 1998 when 162,000 lost supply. I discussed with NIE the importance of an effective communication strategy to inform those impacted as to when power will be restored.
“I am sure that with 800 people already deployed in the logistics needed to restore supplies, with the addition of engineers from England, Scotland and Wales, that NIE will do all it can to restore the remaining 190,000 homes and businesses as soon as it is possible to do so safely.”
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