Irish households face mounting energy costs as energy provider Bord Gáis announced price increases, adding hundreds of euros annually to typical power and gas bills, according to comparison website Bonkers.ie. Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien stated that the government cannot soften every price increase, advising consumers to retrofit homes or switch providers to mitigate rising expenses.
Bord Gáis Price Hikes and Household Impact
Energy provider Bord Gáis announced new price increases on Wednesday, driving up household utility costs across Ireland. According to price comparison platform Bonkers.ie, the latest adjustments will add €177 to the average household’s power bill and another €140 for gas.
Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien addressed the increases during an interview on Today FM’s The Last Word with Matt Cooper. O’Brien stated that the energy regulator is doing enough to protect consumers, while acknowledging the ongoing financial strain. He remarked, “I want to be straight with people too, that we’re not going to be able to soften every increase in energy prices.”
The minister emphasized that while the government aims to help as many citizens as possible, policy priorities must also focus on long-term infrastructure. These priorities include investing heavily in the national grid and accelerating the delivery of renewable energy sources.
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Minister O’Brien noted that 284,000 properties—making up roughly 10% of the nationwide housing stock—have already undergone some form of retrofitting, ranging from upgraded windows and doors to the installation of solar panels.
Government Retrofitting Schemes and Switching Advice
To combat persistent utility inflation, Minister O’Brien encouraged the public to pursue permanent efficiency upgrades and market competition. Speaking on Today FM, he pointed to state reimbursement schemes as a viable tool for cutting household overhead.
“Permanent changes that can be made to reduce energy use, reduce consumption, and, really importantly, reduce bills,” O’Brien said, noting that state reimbursement schemes can save people up to €1,600 per year.
As chair of the regulator’s National Affordability Taskforce, the minister also urged consumers to shop around for better deals. Although Ireland’s switching rate compared to Europe is not bad, he noted that many, many people don’t switch. “There are savings out there even in a high-price environment that all of Europe is living in right now,” he stated.
Public Transport Fare Increases and Future Services
In addition to utility costs, fare increases for public transit were announced at a press briefing this morning. Passengers will face an overall 15% jump in standard adult tickets across bus and train networks throughout the country when these adjustments take effect in January.
Minister O’Brien defended the adjustment by placing the new rates in historical context, asserting that they’ll still be lower than they were eight years ago. He explained that the additional revenue generated from the fare adjustments will fund system expansions.
“What we’re going to be able to do with this modest increase, and in many areas a decrease, I might add, is actually add at least 140 new services right the way across the country in 2027,” O’Brien said. He added that those increases and that additional income will go directly into new services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the Bord Gáis price increase cost the average household?
According to Bonkers.ie, the change will add €177 to the average household’s power bill and €140 for gas.
What are Minister O’Brien’s primary recommendations for lowering energy bills?
Minister O’Brien’s advice for saving money is to retrofit your home or switch providers, noting that state reimbursement schemes can save people up to €1,600 per year.
When do the public transport fare increases take effect?
Adult fares on buses and trains nationwide are set to increase by an average of 15% as part of the increases, coming into effect from January.
What will the additional revenue from transport fare increases fund?
According to Minister O’Brien, those increases and that additional income will go directly into adding at least 140 new services right the way across the country in 2027.
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