Highest electricity prices in Europe “due to government idleness” says Crowe

Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has said that the reason Ireland has the highest energy prices in Europe is because of the government’s refusal to properly invest in renewable energy.

Crowe also criticised the government’s “unwillingness to say no to data centres that are leeching on the national grid.”

Crowe said that “Irish workers and families are tired of being ripped off when it comes to energy prices. Electricity in Ireland is some 40% above the EU average.”

“The basic necessity of lighting and heating your home is becoming simply unaffordable for many people with over 300,000 people in arrears on their electricity bills. That figure has jumped by 23% since last year and is only going to get worse,” he said.

“Data centres are piling pressure onto the grid but aren’t paying their fair share for what they’re using. Their electricity rate is half of what homeowners pay, and they contribute hardly anything at all for upkeep of the grid. There must be a moratorium on data centres until we have a resilient energy supply.”

Crowe noted, “far from taking action to help workers and families, this government withdrew energy credits, taking away the only lifeline many households had. That is why we now need an emergency budget.”

“Electricity credits and other temporary measures only tell half the story though. In order to end Ireland’s energy rip-off for good, the government must adopt Sinn Féin’s proposals to reform Ireland’s energy market.

The Dublin South-West TD said, “the only hope of achieving Irish energy independence is through our incredible renewables potential, yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have totally failed to seize the opportunity. Ireland has still yet to break ground on any offshore wind project.

“Ireland must end our overdependence on imported fossil fuels and achieve energy security in renewables that protects Irish workers and families from spiralling energy costs because of external shocks such as the war in Ukraine and against Iran,” he said.