Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the facilities that are in place for persons to ensure that they are getting the best value or are on the best plan for their energy usage; if he understands that people are paying more for their energy bills when discounts may be available, but they are not informed of them; if he has plans to improve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64259/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, CRU ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014.

The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward additional measures to help contain energy costs. According to Eurostat, in the first half of 2025, Ireland had the fifth highest domestic electricity prices among European countries and eighth highest household gas prices. When comparing across countries using the Purchasing Power Standard (PPS), which adjusts for national price levels, Ireland ranks as the twelfth most expensive for both electricity and gas.

Switching energy providers in Ireland's competitive market can lead to households potentially saving hundreds of euros annually by switching from standard tariffs to the cheapest deals. Greater levels of switching between electricity providers increases competitiveness in the market which in turn pushes prices down as suppliers compete for customers. Regular switching, ideally every 12 months, helps customers access discounted rates and avoid the higher standard rates offered after introductory periods.

The CRU’s 2023 Energy Monitoring Report found that consumer switching rates were 12% for electricity customers and 14% among gas customers. This compares with average switching rates of 7.15% for electricity consumers in the EU25. That report highlighted the savings potential offered by consistent switching, finding that customers who had switched supplier each of the preceding four years could have saved €946 on electricity, €775 on gas or €2,018 on their dual fuel costs, in total over the period. The CRU monitors and publishes switching reports monthly and runs an information campaign each year to promote switching. Growing public awareness of the cost savings associated with switching, and of the potential to save money through switching to a time-of-use tariff and switching consumption to off-peak periods, has the potential to reduce a households’ energy bills.

My Department has established a Cross Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.

The first item in the taskforce work programme was the development of an interim report, which included measures for consideration to support customers in the coming Winter, to inform Budget 2026 discussions. This report is available on gov.ie. The taskforce will now proceed with further work to develop the Action Plan, including a programme of public consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Action Plan will be published in 2026.