Electricity Arrears For Ireland Households Account Up To €455

For the month of April, new data is released by the energy regulator that the number of households that have their electricity arrears still pending has increased. However, a decrease in the number of arrears on gas bills has been observed. 

According to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the total outstanding amount of these arrears is €455 as compared to the arrears in gas bills that are lower, €240. The data includes Ireland households that have not paid their arrears for the first three months of the running year. 

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The total number of Ireland households that have their electricity bills pending is 230,450. The households for pending gas bills are 171,000 in the first quarter. 

On comparing data with the previous year, it was quite a contrast. The average outstanding amount for electricity arrears was €311 while for the gas bills, it was €154. An overview of the statistics confirmed that there was a 46% increase in the electricity arrears for Ireland households.

Reason for having a survey of electricity arrears 

To have an overlook of how Ireland people are struggling with their finances, Sinn Fein MEP and former senator Lynn Boylan emphasised the release of the data to CRU. After the data was disclosed, Lynn Bolan said, “It’s very welcome that the CRU has finally published this data. It gives a much clearer picture of how households are struggling”. 

The senator is of the view that after the energy prices crisis, this has been the highest households owe to the energy companies of the country for this year. It clearly shows that the government’s energy credit is not sufficient to cater to the needs of the Irish people. 

A deeper probe into the figures generated by CRU showed that the electricity arrears increased from 10% (in March) to 11% (in April). During last year’s November, the highest peak of the year was 13%. 

Also, one in four domestic gas customers have gas bills in arrears. April showed arrears at 24% while March had a slightly increased level at 25%. 

Daragh Cassidy, from Bonkers.ie (the price comparison site) stated that there might be another round of energy price cuts in upcoming weeks. This would lead to a decrease between 10% to 20% at wholesale prices.