The energy crisis continues to tighten its grip on Irish households, with a staggering one in eight now behind on their electricity bills and nearly one in four struggling to pay for gas. According to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Irish families owe a whopping €119 million on electricity and €38 million on gas bills as of June this year.
The average debt per household is no small change either, with €435 owed on electricity and €210 on gas. These figures paint a grim picture of the financial strain many are under.
July saw a sharp rise in disconnections, with 226 homes cut off from electricity and 266 from gas due to non-payment. The situation has been slowly worsening since the government’s electricity credit scheme ended in March 2024.
While the government has announced a €250 credit in the recent Budget 2025, to be applied in two instalments, critics argue that these one-off supports are merely a band-aid on a deeper wound. Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called for long-term solutions rather than temporary measures.
Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the government’s approach, stating, “I make no apology for giving people a little bit of their own money back in the here and now.” However, with energy bills remaining stubbornly high and no significant reductions in sight, many Irish families are left wondering how they’ll keep the lights on in the months to come.
As winter approaches, the energy arrears crisis serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing cost-of-living challenges facing the nation. The Irish Examiner will continue to monitor this developing situation and its impact on households across the country.