Energy Prices
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

I thank the Deputy for the question. I understand she wants clarification specifically on the review of the pass-through from wholesale electricity prices to retail electricity prices that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, requested the CRU to undertake. As the Deputy knows, retail electricity prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked fifth for household electricity prices among European countries in the first half of 2025. When adjustments are made for purchasing power parity, Ireland is about mid-table in terms of affordability, with its electricity prices being the 12th highest among European countries.
In a report from last October, the International Energy Agency, IEA, observed that Irish retail prices had not adjusted at a pace comparable with that of the decline in wholesale prices, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure or windfall profits in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the programme for Government commitment to commission an independent review into the speed and the level of pass-through from wholesale prices to retail prices.
The Minister wrote to the CRU to request that it commence the independent review, building on the work of the previous CRU investigations, reviewing the competitiveness of the Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing price analyses to compare with other EU member states. This will also assess whether measures are warranted to enhance market responsiveness to wholesale price changes and make recommendations to ensure the benefits of lower wholesale prices are felt by the consumer.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-16