A major power outage struck parts of Dublin yesterday afternoon, leaving thousands of residents and businesses without electricity. The disruption, which began around 2:15 PM, is being blamed on a fault at a local substation, according to ESB Networks.

Thousands Without Power in Dublin as Major Outage Disrupts City

The blackout has affected several key residential and commercial areas, including:

• Phibsborough
• Drumcondra
• Glasnevin
• Dublin city centre

What Caused the Outage?

ESB Networks has confirmed that the outage is due to a technical fault at a substation servicing the north Dublin area. Emergency engineers were dispatched immediately to assess and repair the damage.

“We are aware of a fault affecting a large number of customers in Dublin. Our teams are working to restore supply as quickly and safely as possible,” an ESB spokesperson said.

When Will Power Be Restored?

As of 4:00 PM, ESB expected full restoration by 6:30 PM, although some areas may see electricity return sooner.

• Updates are being posted in real time at www.PowerCheck.ie.
• The ESB emergency support line remains open at 1850 372 999.

What Locals Are Experiencing

The outage has disrupted day-to-day life across affected neighbourhoods. Social media is flooded with residents sharing their frustrations:

“No Wi-Fi, no fridge, no work — the house has gone silent.” – @dublinhomeworker
“Just picked up the kids and traffic lights are out. Chaos!” – @citymum25
“Lost power mid-call with a client. This is a nightmare.” – @techguyIE

Safety and Preparedness Tips

ESB has issued the following advice to customers while waiting for service to resume:

• Treat all downed or damaged wires as live – do not approach.
• Use torches instead of candles to avoid fire hazards.
• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve food.
• Turn off appliances to avoid power surges when electricity returns.

Impact on Local Services

• Several small businesses and cafés in the affected areas have had to close early or switch to limited operations.
• Traffic has been impacted due to non-functioning traffic lights at some city centre junctions.
• Some residents have reported difficulty reaching customer service lines due to high call volume.

Stay Informed

You can follow real-time updates and check whether your area is still affected by visiting:

🔗 www.PowerCheck.ie
📞 ESB Emergency: 1850 372 999
📱 Twitter: @ESBNetwork

The outage has sparked fresh conversation around the reliability of Dublin’s urban infrastructure — especially as more people depend on home electricity for work, education, and essential services.

Stay informed with itson.ie.