Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
207. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on whether it will be helpful for the energy regulator to provide the arrears data on a monthly basis as has been recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he sought updated arrears data from the regulator in advance of the Budget; and if not, the reason he did not seek this data and if he would make; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) regularly publishes market monitoring data, including the estimated annual bills for households; the number of households in payment arrears on their energy bills; the number of disconnections; and the number of customers switching energy supplier. Arrears data is generally published by the CRU on a monthly basis, though it is acknowledged that there was a delay in the publication of the data in July, August and September of this year. As arrears data operates with a two-month time lag due to the way suppliers report these figures to the CRU and the need to validate the data, the latest published arrears figures are for September 2025.
The data show that there are currently 297,313 customers in electricity arrears. This is a 3.4% decrease from the August figure of 307,862. For those in arrears more than 90 days, 187,307 electricity customers were in arrears in September 2025, a slight decrease of 0.7% from August 2025 (188,618).
In relation to gas, 179,576 customers were in arrears in September 2025, a 3.8% decrease from 186,594 households in August. Regarding customers in arrears over 90 days, this stood at 153,658 in September, a decrease of 0.5% from August 2025.
The CRU is currently reviewing its market monitoring framework through which this data is collected and reported upon. The review aims to provide more granular information to gain a better understanding of the numbers of customers who may be in more distress and in need of support with their debt.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with the CRU in relation to the matters raised. The CRU provides a dedicated email address, oireachtas@cru.ie, for Oireachtas members which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters.
