The company in charge of Ireland's national electricity grid has warned that a massive spike in demand could cause a power shortage in the coming months.
The scenario could leave households around Ireland without heating, air conditioning, lighting or hot water in the coming months – including over Christmas.
Energy company Eirgrid said Ireland has smashed the all-time national record for electricity demand twice in the last week.
And it has warned that the risk of outages in stations across the country is high, after technical issues prompted amber alerts at three power stations across the country this week.
The company says it has factored the closure of one of its peat-burning midlands power stations – in West Offaly – into its stark projections, RTE reports.
But renewable energy can be vulnerable when the wind isn't blowing, and if supply doesn't come in from the UK, the whole system could be at risk.
As well as the closure of the West Offaly power plant, Eirgrid is also closing its Lough Ree power station next Friday.
On Twitter, Eirgrid wrote on December 8: "A new record for electricity was set in Ireland last night.
"Consumption climbed to 5,357 MW, up 245 MW on the previous record set last Thursday.
"Prior to last Thursday, the record had not been broken since the cold Christmas of 2010!"
For the latest news and breaking news visit irishmirror.ie/news.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter - the official Irish Mirror Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror and irishmirror.ie.
You can also get in touch with us via our Instagram account.
