ESB PowerCheck & Power Outages in Ireland: Check, Report & What to Do

If your power is out, the live map below shows every fault, planned outage and estimated restoration time that ESB Networks is currently publishing on PowerCheck, with a list of the areas affected right now. To report a new power cut or a fallen line, ring ESB Networks on 1800 372 999.

This guide walks through every step: checking the map, reporting a fault, what to do during the blackout, when to claim for damaged appliances, and how to register as a vulnerable customer so you are prioritised next time.

Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy

How to check an ESB power outage in your area

ESB Networks (the company that owns and maintains the electricity grid in Ireland) runs the PowerCheck service. It is the single source of truth for outages, whether you are with Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, SSE Airtricity, Energia, Pinergy, Flogas, or any other electricity supplier. Your supplier handles billing. ESB Networks handles the wires.

If the map shows no fault but your power is out, the issue may be inside your home (a tripped RCD, a blown main fuse, or a meter problem). Check your fuseboard first before reporting.

ESB power outage history in Ireland

ESB Networks publishes outages live and removes them once power is back, so no official history exists. The figures below count every outage recorded on PowerCheck over the last 90 days. Only outages affecting more than 10 properties appear on PowerCheck, so the true number of small local faults is higher.

Source: ESB Networks PowerCheck feed, recorded from 12 Aug. County is assigned from the outage location, so border areas can be attributed to a neighbouring county. Planned works are counted separately from faults.

Planned ESB outages in Ireland

ESB Networks has 68 planned outages under way in Ireland right now, affecting about 4,904 customers. PowerCheck only lists planned work once it starts, so no map or website can show planned outages days ahead. ESB Networks tells the homes affected directly: a postcard at least two days before, and, if your mobile number is registered, a text about five days ahead with a reminder the day before.

When planned outages happen in Ireland

We logged 4,279 planned ESB outages in Ireland over the last 90 days. 88% started on a weekday morning between 8am and noon, and 98% fell on a weekday. ESB typically scheduled the power to be off for about 6.5 hours. The most common reasons were improving supply quality, network upgrades and connecting new customers.

Got a planned outage card? Charge phones the night before, keep the fridge and freezer shut, and switch off sensitive electronics until power is back. If anyone in your home relies on electrical medical equipment, register as a vulnerable customer with your electricity supplier so ESB can give you extra notice.

Power outages by county

Each county page shows a live map zoomed to that county, its current and recent outages, and how long power cuts there usually last. During a named storm, the storm power outage tracker ranks the worst-hit counties and shows how fast power is coming back.

Monthly power-cut reports: October 2026, September 2026.

How to report an ESB power outage

Always report a new fault, even if you assume someone else already has. Each report helps ESB Networks pinpoint the affected stretch of network.

The number 1800 372 999 is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is free to call from any Irish phone.

What causes ESB power outages in Ireland?

Outages fall into two categories: planned and unplanned. ESB Networks publishes planned outages on the PowerCheck map at least 48 hours in advance and posts a card through the door of affected homes.

How long does an ESB power outage last?

The PowerCheck map shows an Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR) for every active fault. This is a real engineering estimate, updated as crews assess the damage. Typical durations:

During a major storm, ETRs are often pushed back as more damage is found. ESB prioritises restoration in this order: hospitals and critical infrastructure first, then largest groups of affected customers, then smaller pockets and individual homes. Single-property faults at the end of long rural feeders are usually the last to be restored.

What to do during a power cut

A power cut in Ireland is usually short, but a few quick steps protect your appliances and food and keep everyone safe until the supply is back.

Most outages are short. If yours stretches past 12 hours and you have a vulnerable family member, contact ESB Networks on 1800 372 999 for an updated ETR and ask about welfare support.

Power outage safety: what NOT to do

Vulnerable customer registration

If you or someone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment (oxygen concentrator, dialysis, nebuliser, electric hoist, stairlift), you should be on the Vulnerable Customer Register. Registration is free and gives you:

• Priority restoration during widespread outages
• A direct phone line for outage updates
• Advance notice of any planned outage on your line
• Welfare contact during prolonged events

You register through your electricity supplier (Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, SSE Airtricity, Energia, etc.), who passes the details to ESB Networks. There are two categories: medically vulnerable (priority) and special services (advance notice only). Full details and the application form are on the ESB Networks vulnerable customers page.

The register is also worth setting up for elderly relatives living alone. It costs nothing and is one of the few cases where the system works in your favour during a major storm.

Claiming for damaged appliances

If a power surge or unplanned outage damaged an appliance, you can file a claim with ESB Networks. The bar is high: ESB will only pay out if there was clear negligence (for example, a fault they had been notified about and failed to act on). For most weather-related events, your home insurance is the right route.

Surge protectors on expensive electronics (TV, computer, fridge-freezer) cost €15–€40 and prevent most voltage-spike damage in the first place.

Will solar panels work during a power outage?

No, not by default. A standard grid-tied solar PV system in Ireland shuts off automatically the moment the grid goes down. This is called anti-islanding and it is required by the ESB Networks connection rules: it stops your panels feeding electricity back into a dead line and electrocuting the engineers fixing the fault.

To keep the lights on during an outage, you need a battery with a backup function (sometimes labelled EPS, Emergency Power Supply, or backup gateway). The hybrid inverter isolates your home from the grid and runs essential circuits from the battery, topped up by the panels during daylight. Not every battery has this. Ask the installer specifically, or read our guide to solar battery backup for power cuts. When the grid is back, surplus solar is exported again under the microgeneration scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

Sources

• ESB Networks: PowerCheck, powercheck.esbnetworks.ie
• ESB Networks: Vulnerable Customer Services, esbnetworks.ie
• CRU: Network Code, cru.ie