The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) (sometimes called ESB Ireland to differentiate it from US

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 utilities), is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market. It is a statutory corporation whose members are appointed by the Government.
The ESB is composed of several distinct, separate and legally demarcated companies.