New figures showing more than half a million energy accounts in arrears must shock the Government out of its complacency, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said:
“The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has revealed there were 318,735 homes – one in seven – in electricity arrears at the end of March. A total of 183,468 were behind on their gas bills.
“This means there are now more than 500,000 energy bills in arrears – a grim milestone that must be a wake-up call for this Government. Even before the latest conflict in the Middle East, customers in Ireland were saddled with some of the highest energy costs in Europe.
“And despite Minister Darragh O’Brien requesting the CRU to carry out a review into alleged price gouging by energy companies last year, there is still no sign of their report.
“The Government’s head in the sand approach to this crisis is not good enough. We need to see immediate interventions, including targeted energy supports for low to medium income households. The Social Democrats have repeatedly called for a €400 energy credit for households with incomes of less than €70,000.
“In addition, we have been pushing for the Government to adopt our ‘Solar for All’ plan. Our proposal includes a doubling of grants for solar installation to €3,600; the inclusion of solar panels in the ‘Warmer Homes Scheme’ to help families cut electricity costs by an average of €450 a year; and the rollout of new technology for plug-in solar.
“The number of people struggling to pay their bills will inevitably rise further when energy providers hike their prices from July. If things are bad now, I dread to think of what will happen in the winter months when demand for energy use increases.”
June 11, 2026