Electricity bills set to hike for thousands of Irish homes
Starting on August 25th, the Irish provider is set to increase its variable electricity charges by around 7%.
For a typical Flogas residential electricity customer, the changes will mean an increase of around €10.51 a month, or €126 a year, on their bills. Flogas are increasing their rates on August 25. Pic: Shutterstock
The energy company currently has about 43,500 residential electricity customers on variable rates.
Flogas Energy Managing Director Sean O'Loughlin stated, 'We will support affected customers through our Customer Service team as much as possible and have a range of options, including payment plans, Budget Plan and pre-payment meters.'
The hikes come as the government has confirmed that one-off cost of living measures, bonuses and electricity credits will not be a feature in the upcoming budget.
In recent years, the public has come to expect energy credits as part of the government's annual budget announcements.
For Budget 2025, two €125 energy credits were issued with one in January and another in November.
Previous budgets have included a range of cost-of-living supports such as double payments and bonus lump sums. However, these measures will not be included this year.
Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, stated that while several one-off payments were made in recent years for certain social welfare schemes, this year will mark a departure from that approach. Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers revealed no electricity credits will be in this year's Budget. Pic: Fran Veale
Chambers appeared on RTE's News at One to give information on what shouldn't be expected in Budget 2026 and pointed out that the government wants to take decisions that would be 'sustainable with global uncertainty'.
According to the Irish Independent, around one in eight domestic electricity customers were behind on their electricity bills earlier this year.
Commission for the Regulation of Utilities figures showed that in the three months before April, a total of 286,000 households were in arrears. Pic: Getty Images
This is up by 85,734 when compared with the same quarter last year.
A total of 175,500 households are behind on gas bills, up around 15,000 on last year.
Average arrears on electricity bills is €437, according to the CRU. On gas bills, the average arrears amount is €213.
A sobering thought for many as we gallop towards autumn and winter and the colder months ahead.
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