The Competition Authority has called for extensive powers for Eirgrid, the state-owned company responsible for the operation and development of the national electricity grid.
Isolde Goggin, Director of Regulated Markets at the Competition Authority said its 'preferred option would be for control of the transmission network to be removed altogether from ESB, as the OECD recommended'.
She said that this is vital to Ireland's economic development and competitiveness.
The Authority believes that access for competing generators to the national grid is crucial for effective competition in the electricity sector.
The Authority said: 'This is best realised when ownership of the grid is entirely removed from the incumbent.'
The ESB had no comment to make.
