Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) of being asleep at the wheel for failing to complete an investigation into suspected price gouging by energy companies.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said:
“Soaring energy prices are feeding into the wider cost-of-living crisis and fuelling the type of public anger and frustration we witnessed during last week’s protests.
“In the Dáil today, I asked the Government for an update on the CRU’s investigation into price gouging in the energy market, which was requested by the Minister for Energy last November. However, five months later – as energy bills continue to skyrocket – there is still no sign of a report or even details as to what stage the investigation is at.
“This is despite mounting evidence suggesting that consumers are being fleeced by energy companies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported last October that Irish retail prices did not adjust at a comparable rate to the reduction in wholesale energy costs. In fact, wholesale prices are currently 72 per cent cheaper than at their peak in August 2022 – a figure that is certainly not reflected in customers’ energy bills.
“When I raised this matter with Minister of State Timmy Dooley in the Dáil today, I was shocked to learn that the Government has not received any response or update from the CRU on the status of the price gouging investigation. The minister then suggested that I invite CRU representatives to appear before the Climate Committee and engage with them there.
“While I will be taking the minister up on his suggestion by writing to the CRU today, it is unacceptable for the Government – given that they requested the investigation in the first place – to be passing the buck to the Climate Committee to deal with such as serious matter.
“The CRU has a responsibility to act in the interests of consumers – something it has manifestly failed to do in this instance.”
April 16, 2026