National electricity grid operator, Eirgrid said power demand may fall 4 per cent to 5 per cent this year and as much as 1 per cent in 2010 because of the “recent downturn in the economy.”
Peak demand in Ireland this winter heating season may be 4,680 megawatts, 226 megawatts less than the 4,906-megawatt record from December 2007, Eirgrid said in a report published on its website.
Electricity generation will be sufficient to meet peak demand and maintain an acceptable margin of spare capacity, the grid-operator said.
Two newly built plants aren’t included in the supply forecast for the winter, Eirgrid said.
Earlier today Eirgrid said it had completed the fundraising required for its purchase of Northern Ireland transmission system operator SONI for £30 million (€37 million).
Although announced last August the deal only received regulatory approval in March and total Eirgrid confirmed it has raised £39 million from Barclays Bank.
The funds will be used to pay for acquisition and to provide working capital.
SONI had been owned by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) and was put up for sale as part of a deal between NIE, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, to grow the independence of the grid operator in the North.
Additional reporting Bloomberg