Thousands more households face falling into arrears on their electricity bills this winter as SSE Airtricity’s latest price increase comes into effect from today, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said:
“SSE Airtricity has now put up its standard variable rate by 9.5 per cent, which will add around €150 a year to a typical bill. This is the second electricity price increase from this supplier this year, which is simply unsustainable in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“It comes just weeks after Energia customers were hit with price rises that will add an average of €200 to their annual bills.
“Similar to the reason given by Energia for its price hikes, SSE Airtricity is blaming increased network and system operator charges.
“However, the increases customers face is way beyond the additional costs that energy companies are incurring. The government cannot just sit back and accept such a poor excuse to justify extortionate price rises. We need proper oversight and an end to light-touch regulation to stop the continuous trend of unfair increases.
“There are now more than 300,000 customers in arrears with their electricity bills – a historic high – with this figure now certain to skyrocket in the absence of further energy credits this winter.
“The Social Democrats had called for targeted energy credits in this month’s budget to benefit 800,000 lower income households, but our proposal was ignored by the government.
“With new figures today confirming that grocery price inflation in October reached its highest level since December 2023 (6.5 per cent), ever-increasing numbers of families are going to have to make the stark choice between heating or eating during the difficult winter months ahead.”
October 20, 2025