Storm Agnes leaves thousands of homes without power as Gas Networks Ireland issues safety advice

Thousands of homes around the country are without electricity due to a number of power cuts associated with Storm Agnes. 

The power-outages are mainly concentrated in Kerry, Cork and south Tipperary. At present, a few thousand customers are said to be affected and ESB Networks is deploying crews to deal with outages where conditions allow.

A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford by Met Éireann. A Status Orange rain warning has also been issued for Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

A Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued for Leinster, Munster and Galway until midnight.

Met Éireann has warned of coastal flooding, difficult travel conditions, power outages and fallen trees

As the operator of Ireland’s gas network, Gas Networks Ireland has reassured its 720,000 customers that it does not anticipate any disruption to gas supplies during Storm Agnes.

It says Ireland’s gas network is one of the safest and most modern gas networks in the world and with the added security of its 14,664km of pipeline being underground it is unlikely to be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

"All works are currently scheduled to take place as normal, however as the safety of our staff, customers and the public is paramount, our teams will assess conditions locally and may defer some work if required for safety reasons," a spokesperson said.

Irrespective of what alert is in place, Gas Networks Ireland emergency services continue to operate as normal. They urge anyone who smells gas at home or on the street, please call 1800 20 50 50 immediately.

In the event of a power cut as a result of the storms, Gas Networks Ireland is providing the following safety advice:

1. Gas appliances may be affected during a power cut

During a power cut, gas supplies and your gas meter should continue to operate as normal.  Gas appliances, however, may be affected.  

Although they operate by burning gas, most gas appliances rely on mains electricity for items such as pumps, fans, electronic controls and so on, so in the event of a power outage they may not operate until the power is restored. 

When the power is restored, gas appliances should operate as normal, but some boilers may need to be reset.  This is normally something that can be done by the customer themselves at the boiler control panel and some boilers have the resetting instructions visible on the boiler.  

If the boiler or other appliances are not working after power has been restored and cannot be reset, please contact a Registered Gas Installer – you’ll find one on https://rgi.ie/.

2. Avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Never run generators or other petrol or diesel equipment indoors, under cover or close to access points in the property such as doors, windows or ventilation points. 

Never use barbeques, patio heaters or other outdoor fuel burning equipment indoors or under cover. If your power is off, it might be tempting to find alternative means of cooking and heating, but these appliances can produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and should only ever be used outdoors in a well-ventilated area.  

Never use an indoor cooking appliance to try and heat a room.

If you’re lighting a fire in the grate, make sure your chimney has been swept and isn’t blocked and ensure the room is properly ventilated.