July was worst on record for energy arrears, figures show

July 2026 was the worst month on record for people who were in arrears on their energy bills, new figures from the CRU have found.

17,000 more people were in arrears on their energy bills in July 2026 than July 2025, which was the all-time record high.

The CRU keeps track of people who are in arrears on their energy bills for more than 90 days.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has called the figures “appalling.”

Boylan said “it is an absolute insult that July is the month that the government was to publish a report on its ‘energy affordability Taskforce’ but instead it’s the month where we’re seeing more people than ever before in arrears on their energy bills for more than 90 days.”

“Worse than this, this July was the worst since records began for energy arrears, and the government has done absolutely nothing to tackle this issue,” she said.

Boylan said “they’ve stood back for years, doing nothing to tackle the structural problems that contribute to high energy prices here, while claiming that their latest talking shop, the affordability task force, will somehow solve the crisis.”

The Dublin MEP said that Sinn Féin will put forward its plan for €400 energy credits as part of its alternative budget as a proposal to tackle the energy costs facing families.

“We already have the most expensive electricity bills in the EU and the highest concentration of data centres in the EU, yet the government is encouraging more of them,” Boylan said.

“The government needs to use its upcoming budget to take real measures to help people struggling with energy costs, rather than standing back and doing nothing.”