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MOVILLE-based Senator
Cecilia Keaveney has welcomed yesterday's
announcement that the ESB has bought NI Electricity.
Speaking in the Seanad, she described the
cross-border deal as "a very positive surge" towards
the all-island energy supply saying it "would assist
the company but also the consumer through economies
of scale".
“Often when we hear of companies buying other
companies in the same field, the concept of monopoly
and job losses are obvious issues that come to mind.
“Having listened to representatives explain this
issue, they said that with this, they do not
envisage job losses but they do envisage bigger and
more efficient workings that will give economies of
scale for consumers. This will mean cheaper
electricity.“
Ireland currently has a layout based around two
grids connected by two inter-connectors. “Ultimately
the goal is to have just one grid and an all-island
wide electricity system,” she said.
“This is but one example of the real economy that
should be happening in that, as an island of our
size, we cannot afford to operate as two separate
entities. The announcement is in keeping with the
focus of the North South Ministerial Council earlier
this week.
“I look forward to seeing progress on this and other
projects and I look forward to the drop in costs
that we as consumers are promised within these
economies of scale,” added the Donegal senator. |
