The operator of the national grid has confirmed that an amber alert was issued over the weekend, warning of a shortfall of power.
Kerry County Councillor Michael Foley says he was notified by a source within the energy sector that such a warning had been issued on Saturday morning.
EirGrid has confirmed the information that was given to the Fine Gael councillor from the Listowel Municipal District.
The state company says the amber alert was issued early on Saturday and was in effect until 6.30 that evening.
It says the alert was issued after the Huntstown gas-fired power plant in Dublin went offline unexpectedly.
EirGrid says this was as the result of something that tripped at the plant; it’s not sure at present what caused this.
There was also very low wind on Saturday – ‘flat calm’ conditions – which meant that this source of energy was contributing nothing to electricity generation.
To put this in perspective, EirGrid says wind would account on average for 40% of electricity generated in Ireland, sometimes this could be as high as 70%.
Finally, an interconnector running between Dublin and North Wales was not operating on Saturday as it was out for maintenance.
