ESB has obtained formal credit ratings from three rating agencies - Fitch, Moody's and Standard and Poor's - for the first time.
The company had wanted the ratings to enhance its access to the international debt markets to support funding its capital programme of €6.5 billion over the next five years.
Fitch assigned a BBB+ senior unsecured rating with a stable outlook, while Moody's gave ESB a Baa1 senior unsecured rating on a negative outlook and S&P put the company on a BBB+ long term credit rating and placed it on a negative credit watch.
The company said it viewed the rating outcome very positively, especially in light of the European-wide debt crisis which has so badly affected the country. It added that the ratings outlook reflect the agencies' respective positions on the country's debt rating.
It said it views the obtaining of the ratings as a key step in its funding strategy.
