Fall in European wholesale gas prices may ease pressure on Irish energy bills                  

Significant rise in gas flow from Russia, warmer weather, and increasing supply from renewables could drive prices down

The cost of wholesale European natural gas plunged after Russian shipments via a key route crossing Ukraine rebounded. That may be enough to help ease the pressures on Irish household bills from rising sharply again in the coming weeks.

Prices slumped as much as 12% as deliveries into Slovakia through the Velke Kapusany entry point returned to normal, grid data showed. Higher Russian supply is weighing on prices just as mild weather curbs demand and wind output surges in Germany and Britain, taking pressure off gas-fired plants.