Formal Complaint Regarding Repeated and Prolonged Electricity Supply Interruptions

To: ESB Networks Customer Relations

CC: Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

Subject: Formal Complaint and Request for Network Improvement Plan Due to Repeated and Prolonged Electricity Outages

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing on behalf of my household and other affected residents in the townland of Mountarmstrong, Donadea, Naas, Co. Kildare area to lodge a formal complaint regarding the ongoing reliability of the electricity supply served by ESB Networks.

Over a prolonged period, our community has experienced repeated and lengthy power outages, often lasting several hours and, on occasion, significantly longer. The frequency and duration of these interruptions have reached a level where many residents no longer consider the electricity supply to be reliable. Most recently we were without power for 14 hours and a day later we have experienced multiple shorter outages.

Impact on Residents:

• Risks to elderly & vulnerable residents
• Risk to multiple medically vulnerable residents dependant on variously - electric feeding equipment, electric operated respiration support, & high tech prescription medication that requires refrigeration
• Loss of water & washing facilities particularly affecting families with small children
• Disruption to remote working & home business, in particular to a number of residents who rely on the ability to work from home due to mobility restriction or medical issues
• Loss of broadband & telecommunication services
• Financial losses through spoiled food & interrupted business activities

We formally request:
1. The recorded outage history affecting our area during the previous 24 months.
2. The principal causes of these outages.
3. Reliability metrics for our network compared with regional and national averages.
4. Details of any identified weaknesses within the local distribution network.
5. Details and timelines of planned maintenance, reinforcement, or resilience projects.
6. Confirmation whether our area is meeting accepted network reliability standards.

We request a written action plan outlining measures being taken to improve network reliability, delivery timeframes, and how residents will be kept informed.

Should a satisfactory response not be provided, we intend to escalate the matter formally to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) for independent review.

We ask that this complaint be recorded as a formal complaint under ESB Networks' complaints procedure and that all future correspondence be provided in writing.

Yours faithfully,

Residents of Mountarmstrong, signatures attached