ESB pole blocking view

saoirse88 · 18-02-2026 08:53AM #1

Hi all,

Hoping for some advice here. We are mid build and have applied for electricity supply with the ESB. They called to tell us where the pole to supply our site will be going. I met the man on site to talk through it, he was lovely but in hindsight I didn’t ask enough questions.

Basically, we have a lovely sea view, we positioned our house and designed it around this view and now there will be a large 30ft pole right in the middle of that view. It would really ruin the whole view.

I suppose my question is, can we run this line under underground? We own the land and would dig the trench. Is that a viable option?

rodderss · 18-02-2026 09:01AM

They own the network its totally up to them to do any supply work and underground lines are 30% less efficent hence why ireland has 2 million ESB poles

secman · 18-02-2026 09:07AM

We requested ESB network to place pole in the right hand corner at rear of our site, it made more sense and it wasn't an issue. Cable underground to house from there. It's less conspicuous, tucked in and close to hedgerow.

Sleamhain · 18-02-2026 12:57PM

You should be able to speak with them to put the pole wherever you want it on your property. And then you provide the ducting from there to meter location.

But for the other poles and cables along the road or fields outside your house, not really anything you can do with that.

Try and arrange for the pole to be tucked in a corner of your property so it's not impacting your view if possible. But you should be aware that if a neighbour were to build a house further along the road, the network might be extended along to supply them, meaning additional poles or cables passing your house and onto the next one (if not there already)

saoirse88 · 18-02-2026 01:55PM

thanks a million for all the responses

So below is our site in BLUE, the proposed poles are in yellow. What I’m wondering is would it be possible to run the cable from just inside the wall underground, has anyone ever done this before? It’s approx 50m

It needs to come through that side according to ESB and no matter where we position pole, if it’s within 20m of the house it’s going to obstruct view.

Anyone ever done this?

Buffman · 18-02-2026 03:51PM

Poles can be moved and layouts altered, but it's a lot easier/cheaper to do it now before it goes in.

Presumably you're paying ESBN big money to get connected, you're the customer, anything should be possible on a green field site like that, so get back onto ESBN and tell them what you would like and ask them if it's possible and at what cost.

saoirse88 · 29-03-2026 01:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124246064#Comment_124246064

I would have thought the same but apparently not. They want the transformer pole within 20m-30m of the house.

We proposed it being near a headrow by the road (still our land) and that we would run the ducting underground from there (at our own cost). This would mean 60m underground rather than 30m.

This way it wouldn’t impact the view as much but they told us that this would result in low voltage. I realise every situation is different but I see plenty of neighbours where the transformer pole is further from the house than that.

Anyone have any ideas what else might be going on here as they seem very stubborn about it, a person sort of familiar with the ESB said it may be they want the transformer there incase another house goes in the other side of us down the line - which isn’t going to happen within the next 20 years anyway (potentially our own kids)

any ideas from here?

Buffman · 29-03-2026 06:35PM

Have they completely ruled out serving you from the line serving that other house in your photo on the other side?

Or can you suggest moving the transformer pole over to the South side of the site where it's well out of the view but still keeping it within 30m of the house.

saoirse88 · 29-03-2026 11:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349541#Comment_124349541

They’ve not really been open to any options to be honest. Just a flat out it has to go there, running underground any more then 30m will result in low voltage. It’s very frustrating to be honest as I see neighbours with transformer poles much further away

irishgeo · 29-03-2026 11:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349994#Comment_124349994

The rules might have changed for new builds.

Buffman · 01-04-2026 06:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349994#Comment_124349994

Ok, I guessing this is being done by email at the minute.

It might be better to arrange a call or meeting directly with the engineer to discuss a solution as sometimes for things like this what can be impossible to sort out over mail can be done in minutes with more direct communication.

It sounds like they might think you don't want any pole on your property whereas you'd be happy enough with one within 30m just in a location that isn't in the view line of sight.

ESB pole blocking view

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