A proposal to significantly increase Ireland's electricity supply next year, at a cost of possibly hundreds of millions of euro, will be brought to Cabinet tomorrow by the Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan.
Under the plan, Eirgrid would purchase an additional 450 megawatts of electricity - equivalent to the annual output of a large generation station.
It is understood the plan envisages Eirgrid buying temporary electricity generators, with the cost being recouped from customers over a three-year period.
However, the plan says the cost to customers would be more than offset by a significant reduction in the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy.
The PSO was already reduced to zero, under the National Energy Security Framework announced last April, and will come into force this October.
Under this latest plan, the PSO could go negative - allowing customers to be reimbursed.
A final decision on the rate will be decided by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities next month.
Last September, Eirgrid predicted a potential shortfall in Ireland's electricity, over five successive winters, in part due to the closure of some peat-fired stations.
Over the previous 18 months, there had been "eight system alerts" on the system.
The destabilisation of energy markets by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has significantly exacerbated that problem.
It is unclear if other measures, such as extending the life-span of the coal-fired Moneypoint generation station, are under active consideration to guarantee security of supply.
