LIVE: 4,600 homes and businesses in Longford still without power in wake of Storm Éowyn

An ESB spokesperson has told 'Longford Live' that as at 2pm today (Tuesday, January 28), approximately 12,500 customers are without power across county Longford and the surrounding areas following widespread and extensive damage as a result of Storm Éowyn.

The ESB Networks’ Longford district encompasses parts of Rosommon, Leitrim, Cavan and Westmeath.  

In Longford there 4,600 approximately without power ; 2,800 in Longford town and environs; 730 in Edgeworthstown ; almost 350 in Ballymahon and 690 in Aghamore. 

Also read: Update: Progress is being made restoring water supply to customers in Longford

Initially, had been estimated that some of these customers could have to wait until Thursday, February 6 before their power is restored, but it is hoped the majority of these will be restored over the coming hours and days. 

ESB Networks anticipate that the vast majority of customers who lost power during Storm Éowyn will have supply restored by Friday night, 31 January.

For the remaining customers, these will progressively have power restored over the course of next week – this could be as many as 100,000 customers.    

Also read: Longford TD calls for urgent action following Storm Éowyn: 'Our communities deserve better'

As of 11.30am (Tuesday), ESB Networks restored supply to 600,000 homes, farms and businesses – approx. 168,000 customers remain without supply, down from a peak of 768,000 on early Friday morning following the unprecedented impact of Storm Éowyn.      

To support ESB Networks and partner contactors in their restoration effort post-Storm Éowyn, skilled technicians from counterparts in Great Britain have been deployed to the worst impacted areas.

Further support has arrived from Austria and Finland this morning while additional crews from electricity network operators in Netherlands and France are due to arrive over the coming days. 

Following Storm Darragh in December and other significant weather events like Storm Ophelia in 2017, ESB Networks received support from electricity network operators in Great Britain and Europe.   

In addition, ESB Networks crews from the south and east of the country are also being redeployed to the worst impacted areas once restoration in their areas has been completed, while skilled retirees from ESB Networks are also being redrafted to assist.  

ESB Networks has published estimated restore times for most of its faults on www.PowerCheck.ie, which are now their most accurate indications based on fault site assessments of when customers can expect to have their power restored. 

Estimated Restoration Times will continue to be updated as the restoration continues to progress and weather conditions may impact on the restoration work.    

ESB Networks acknowledge the disruption to family and commercial life this causes and thank customers across the country who remain without power for their patience as their crews work to safely restore power.