The ESB has apologised to customers who received a solicitors' letter on behalf of the company by mistake in the last number of days.
A number of customers received letters from solicitors on behalf of the ESB informing them that they owed money and that if the bill outstanding was not paid that the solicitor firm were instructed to issue proceedings without further notice.
The ESB said that a system error lead to solicitor's letters being issued to a number of customers by mistake.
They are currently in the process of identifying the customers affected.
A spokesperson added that: 'A letter such as this would normally only be issued after a lengthy period of non-payment where arrears had built up and numerous contacts had been made with the customer to resolve the situation.
'ESB apologies where this mistake has occurred and regrets any distress caused.'
Dermot Jewell of the Consumer's Association criticised the ESB for allowing such a systems failure to occur.
