The latest CRU figures show that August 2026 was the worst August on record for electricity arrears, while figures for arrears of 90 days are at their worst level ever.
According to the figures, there are 8,360 more people in arrears compared to the same time last year, and 17,886 more since the government’s National Energy Affordability Taskforce was announced in June 2025.
The figures have been described as ‘appalling’ by Lynn Boylan, the Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin.
Boylan said “these latest figures show that the number of people falling behind on their electricity bills have reached an unprecedented new height, which is gravely concerning.”
“Not only was this the worst August for energy arrears in general, but it was also the worst month ever for the number of people in arrears for more than 90 days,” she noted.
“Meanwhile, thousands more people have fallen into arrears, and families struggling to pay their energy bills are still waiting for meaningful action; people simply cannot afford to wait any longer.”
Boylan added “we already have the highest electricity prices in the EU according to Eurostat’s announcement last week, yet the government has spent more than a year talking about energy affordability while the number of people in arrears has continued to rise.”
“Sinn Féin has consistently called for action to tackle the structural problems contributing to high energy costs, such as stopping big businesses having their energy subsidised by households, imposing a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, and ramping up our production of renewables to insulate us future energy price shocks, as Spain has done.”
“People struggling to keep up with their electricity bills need action, not another missed deadline,” the Sinn Féin MEP said.