ESB unions will consider today the possibility of industrial action in protest at Government proposals for reform of the electricity market. However, no definitive decision is expected until the autumn.
Unions at the ESB oppose the proposals, which were set out in a White Paper on energy published last March, to transfer ownership of a significant proportion of the company's assets to a separate firm.
Under the proposals, the ownership of the national transmission grid, which carries power from stations, would be transferred from ESB to EirGrid, which manages the system.
Former minister for communications and natural resources Noel Dempsey said the measures would "transform the landscape of the Irish electricity market and improve its attractiveness for new and existing players".
He also said they would "ensure the benefits of competition result in lower prices for the consumer".
However, the unions have argued that the move would be in breach of a seven-year-old agreement that there would be no removal of assets from the ESB.
ESB employees own 5 per cent of the company and its assets, including the transmission system.
The meeting of the unions is expected to hear details of a meeting held recently on the White Paper with Minister for Communications and Energy Eamon Ryan.
It is understood that Mr Ryan told the unions that while the White Paper formed part of the programme for government, he would be consulting interested parties in the months ahead.
The chairman of the ESB group of unions, David Naughton of the Technical, Electrical and Engineering Union, said that no final decision was expected to be taken in relation to possible industrial action at the company at the meeting today.
