State-owned Eirgrid posts pretax profits of €40.7m

The energy provider had group revenue of €706.2m, up by 5.7 per cent on 2014

Alex White, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: he was presented with the 2015 annual report which was launched on Wednesday
Alex White, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: he was presented with the 2015 annual report which was launched on Wednesday

Eirgrid has reported pretax profits of €40.7 million for 2015 and has proposed a €3.5 million dividend to the exchequer.

The State-owned energy provider also reported group revenue of €706.2 million, up by 5.7 per cent on 2014, and underlying profits of €16.9 million.

Its 2015 annual report was launched on Wednesday and presented to Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White.

"Delivering the right electricity grid and operating it securely and efficiently for the entire island of Ireland, north and south, is what guides us in Eirgrid", said chairman John O'Connor.

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“It is evident in the way we are planning for the future needs of the electricity transmission grid.”

Mr O’Connor pointed to a growing share of renewable energy generation to the grid.

“It is evident in the large investment in new wholesale electricity market systems to ensure we have the most competitive prices possible,” he said.

Chief executive Fintan Slye said much of last year's focus was on rolling out data centres, including those for Apple in Athenry, Co Galway; Facebook in Clonee, Co Meath; and Microsoft in Grangecastle, Co Dublin.

“Large data centres are high energy users so they will often connect directly to the electricity grid. Developments such as these bring construction jobs, long-term employment and increased rates to fund local council facilities,” Mr Slye said.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times