One in seven households in electricity arrears after Government energy credits withdrawn

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published its latest arrears figures up to the end of 2025, which showed 319,459 domestic electricity customers owing money on their bills.

Households felt the full force of the withdrawal of the Government’s energy credits and price hikes heading into Christmas, as new figures show a surge in those behind on their electricity bills in December.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published its latest arrears figures up to the end of 2025, which showed 319,459 domestic electricity customers owing money on their bills.

This figure had risen by more than 20,000 in just three months, and the rise means one in seven households are in arrears on their electricity.

Advocates had warned arrears figures may rise after the Government did not provide electricity credits in the most recent budget, as they had done in previous years, to help households meet the cost of soaring energy bills.

The Government, however, has frequently defended the measures it took to protect vulnerable households in the budget, and said it took a more targeted approach, with measures such as expanding and increasing the fuel allowance.

The CRU figures show the number in arrears for 90 days or more is also on the rise. In December 2025, there were 191,525 domestic electricity customers in arrears for more than three months.

This was a rise of 30,000 on the same time last year, and a full 65,000 more households in arrears when compared with Christmas 2022.

Darragh Cassidy, head of communications at Bonkers.ie, said the figures were “obviously concerning”.

“In the lead-up to this winter, the Government removed the payment of the €250 electricity credit, while at the same time several suppliers hiked their prices by between 10 and 15% on average,” he said.

“Both these measures meant some households were faced with an annual hike of around €450 a year in their electricity bills. This has clearly been a struggle for many, as the number of households behind on their electricity bills has now shot up to almost 320,000 — a record high.

“The numbers behind on their gas bills have also increased and remain close to a record high at 26% of households. Those heavily in arrears probably won't be able to switch. But for those who can, I’d highly recommend it as savings of several hundred euro can be made.” 

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, who has been tracking the CRU figures, said the latest data showed we are in “uncharted territory”.

"Worse still, this is only the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “These figures do not include the families who are managing to keep up with their electricity payments only by cutting back on food and other basic necessities.

"People are really suffering. This is not a cost-of-living problem anymore. It is a political failure.”