Electricity costs climb again as households face higher winter energy bills

CSO data shows electricity prices rising again after months of decline, with households warned of higher bills this winter

The energy regulator, the CRU, is likely to propose another increase in network fees for the upkeep of the electricity grid. Picture David Creedon

Wholesale electricity prices crept higher last month ending five consecutive months of decline.,

New data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows wholesale electricity prices rose by 4.6% last month but was 10.3% lower than July 2024.

Deirdre Toher, CSO Statistician in the Prices Division, said electricity prices have fallen by 74.3% when compared with the peak that occurred in August 2022.

Daragh Cassidy head of communications with energy price comparison website Bonkers.ie said the monthly rise would be a blow to households. "At just under €100 per megawatt hour (MWh), they remain well above the €40 to €50 per MWh level that was normal in the years before the war in Ukraine," he said.
Along with possible price rises from utilities, Mr Cassiday said the energy regulator, the CRU, is likely to propose another increase in network fees for the upkeep of the electricity grid.

"The Government is also highly unlikely to pay more energy credits this winter," he said. "Last winter the Government paid two energy credits worth €125 each. The winter before it paid three credits worth €150 each or €450 in total. And the winter before it paid three rounds of €200 credits — so €600 in total. These credits, coupled with substantial social welfare support, have helped shield households from high energy costs. So this lack of support means we’ll all be paying more for our energy this winter. As a result it’s imperative that households switch supplier to ensure they’re on the cheapest tariff possible."

Separately, the CSO said domestic producer prices for manufactured goods were on average 1.0% higher in July compared with a year earlier, while producer prices for exported goods were down by 3.9%. Overall, manufacturing producer prices were 3.5% lower in the year.

Some of the most notable changes in producer prices for food products over the 12 months to July 2025 were dairy products which rose 11.1%, meat products up 6.7% and vegetables which fell 16.2%.

"Producer prices for products sold on the domestic market were 1.0% higher in July 2025 compared with July 2024," Ms Toher said. "In the 12 months to July 2025, export producer prices fell by 3.9%, while overall producer prices were down by 3.5%."

The CSO said wholesale prices for construction products declined by 0.2% in the month to July 2025 but rose by 0.4% in the 12 months since July 2024.