Taoiseach comments after Electric Ireland announces third price hike in months

Electric Ireland has announced plans to increase residential electricity bills by 26.7% in Ireland and 29% in Northern Ireland from October 1.

In Ireland, gas bills will go up by 37.5%.

The increases equate to €37.20 per month on the average residential electricity bill and €42.99 per month on gas, based on the estimated annual bill as defined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

Electric Ireland said the increases were due to “ongoing uncertainty in the international energy markets and sustained and unprecedented increases in wholesale energy prices”.

Pat Fenlon, executive director of Electric Ireland, said: “This continues to be a very challenging time for customers and an unprecedented time in the energy industry, with increases to wholesale gas prices in excess of 700% over the last 12 months and 200% since June 2022 alone.

“It is with considerable reluctance that we are increasing electricity and gas prices again for our customers, which is necessary given the continuing increases in wholesale energy prices, particularly gas.

“To put that into context, this time last year wholesale gas prices for winter were circa £1.15 per therm, and as of last week, this winter’s prices were circa £7.70 per therm.

“We realise these price increases will be difficult for many customers to absorb and we are committed to helping our customers during these difficult times.

“We encourage any customer having difficulty in paying bills to engage with us and we will work with them to agree a manageable payment plan.

“In addition, our €3 million Electric Ireland Hardship Fund is available and will be istered on our behalf by our partners SVP (Society of St Vincent de Paul) and MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service).” 

Multiple increases this year 

This is the third increase in electricity prices this year, with previous announcements in May and June.

SSE Airtricity announced similar increases last week, with the average electricity bill rising by 35.4% and gas by 39%.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the price hikes reflect a “broader exponential rise” in energy prices.

“The last week or two have seen pretty dramatic, unprecedented increases in pricing in of forward purchases of energy on the wholesale market,” Mr Martin added.

He said that EU energy ministers will meet on September 9 to bring forward emergency measures to curb soaring prices.

“That will look at perhaps the link between the price of gas and the wider price and the need to do something pretty quickly in respect of that, and then a more structural reform of the market over the next 12 months,” Mr Martin added.

“From a Government perspective, we will use the budget and also in tandem with the budget the cost-of-living package, to alleviate pressures on households.

“We’ll also have to look at the impact on businesses in of jobs and the retention of jobs, of this exponential growth in prices. We will deal with that as best we can in of alleviating pressures on people which are clear.

“We will also be launching a demand reduction approach. In other words, energy efficiency, and all of us will have to see what we can do to reduce our energy consumption.

“It is very costly, not just at an individual level and at the societal level.

“We can alleviate the pressures to some degree from a budgetary perspective. But given the exponential growth at the moment, and forecasts into the winter and early next year, there has to be a wider intervention in the market to bring prices back down.”