Gas bill 23% Electricity bill 9% Household dues; 11 years ESB will refund up to €50 charging error

Dublin: The number of household gas customers in arrears at the end of March stood at 160,399. The number of defaulting domestic gas consumers increased from 20% to 23% in the first quarter of 2023. However, the number of arrears of domestic electricity consumers has decreased from 11% to 9% during the same period. At the end of March, the number of outstanding household gas customers stood at 160,399, while the number of outstanding household electricity customers stood at 199,790.

The Taoiseach said he was deeply concerned to hear that more than 23 per cent of people were in arrears on their gas bills. Varadkar said he acknowledged the country was facing a cost-of-living crisis, but the government was helping with salaries, household goods and other measures such as childcare.

Leo Varadkar said he expects electricity and gas prices to drop later in the year. He said this could be because energy credits were taken from electricity bills. But not gas bills. He advised those in arrears to engage with their provider.

The ESB network's subsequent eleven-year charging error will set domestic customers back €100 million. The refund will come through a reduction in domestic tariffs, such as standing and unit charges, starting from October 1. ESB Networks said in January that each customer would receive up to €50 in credit. The error occurred in the administration of a €50 million subsidy scheme to help large businesses.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath said he was asking companies to do more as they experienced a dramatic reduction in wholesale spending. McGrath said the government would consider what more it could do to help consumers in the coming months, particularly in the wake of the Budget.

Sinn Féin called for the Government to take action to ensure lower prices for energy consumers. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said a quarter of gas customers were in arrears and 199,000 electricity customers were behind on paying their bills.