“HUNDREDS OF millions” could be knocked off the estimated €6 billion bill to upgrade the Republic’s national electricity distribution system, the State agency responsible for the network said yesterday.

Eirgrid, the body responsible for managing the national grid – the backbone of the system for transmitting electricity from power stations to customers – is planning to upgrade and extend the network over the 15 years at a cost of €6 billion.

The agency said yesterday new technology means that it should be able to cut the estimated cost of upgrading key parts of the network.

Aidan Corcoran, who is managing the upgrading project, said the technology will lead to major savings and mean that the overall plan will be much more cost effective. He told The Irish Times that the technology had the potential to save “hundreds of millions” of euro by the time the grid’s redevelopment is finished in 2025. The technology consists of conductors that have the capacity to carry more power than existing equipment, but are no larger.

Mr Corcoran explained that normally, the more power a conductor carries, the larger it is.

If the agency were to increase the size of the conductors on its network, this could involve the rebuilding or replacement of structures such as steel towers and pylons.

However, the new conductors it intends using mean Eirgrid will not have to do this, which will lead to the savings, Mr Corcoran said.

Eirgrid is extending the national grid to enable it to meet future increased demand and allow it to take on more electricity generated from renewable sources.

The Republic’s electricity system and energy resources are key to attracting and maintaining future investment in the State, according to Eirgrid.