asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his Department have any means of checking the voltage distribution supplied by the ESB in rural towns and villages as it would appear to be below requirements in parts of Kerry with consequent danger to electrical apparatus and inconvenience to users.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Electricity Supply.
49.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that in all areas where there are indications that supply may be below standard, voltage readings are taken and mains improvements carried out if necessary.
The main reason why voltage drops below normal is that consumers in an area continue to connect new appliances to the board's mains without notifying the board beforehand. Some difficulty has been experienced recently in County Kerry due to damage to voltage boosting equipment because of lightning. Steps have been taken to replace the defective equipment.
Work to improve supply generally in Milltown and Cahirciveen, County Kerry, has already been authorised and will soon be carried out. Approximately £172,000 is being spent on mains improvement in rural towns and villages in County Kerry in the present financial year. If the board's district manager in Tralee is notified with regard to any particular location where supply is not considered to be satisfactory, the position will be investigated and corrected as required.