Soc Dems Wicklow TD Blasts €19B Electricity Network Upgrade Amid Rising Household Costs

Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore condemned the CRU’s approval of electricity price increases, arguing that it unfairly burdens households already struggling with soaring energy costs.

EirGrid and ESB Networks could spend up to €19 billion by 2030 to upgrade Ireland’s electricity network, after the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) approved large-scale investment plans.

The funding aims to prepare the system for 300,000 new homes, support the electrification of public transport, and integrate electricity from offshore wind farms.

The CRU has set a baseline investment of €13.8 billion over the next five years, with the possibility of increasing it to €18.9 billion if the companies meet agreed targets.

Of the baseline, €11.4 billion will go to ESB Networks, which distributes electricity to homes, and €2.4 billion to EirGrid, which manages the national transmission grid.

However, these upgrades come at a cost to consumers. The CRU has estimated that reaching the €13.8 billion investment target will add €1 per month to household electricity bills.

If the full €18.9 billion is spent, bills could rise by €1.75 per month. Most of the €1 monthly increase was already added in October, following a review of network charges, which make up roughly one-third of domestic electricity costs.

While the investment in the electricity grid is considered essential, critics argue the burden on households is unfair, especially amid already soaring energy costs including a Wicklow TD.

Wicklow TD, Social Democrats Deputy Jennifer Whitmore 

Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore condemned the decision, describing it as “contemptible” for placing the cost on struggling families.

Whitmore highlighted the lived reality for nearly 300,000 households currently in arrears on electricity bills, describing people “living in cold homes, in freezing conditions, who can’t afford to turn the heat on.” She also criticized the CRU’s advice to consumers to shop around or shift electricity use to off-peak hours, calling it “patronising and dismissive” in the face of rapidly increasing bills.

“While investment in our grid is desperately needed, why is the lion’s share of this burden being foisted on consumers?” Whitmore said. She urged the government to investigate price gouging by energy companies and to introduce a targeted €400 energy credit for households struggling with costs—measures she says have been repeatedly ignored.

Ireland already faces some of the highest energy costs in the EU, and critics argue the government has shown little willingness to address the issue while approving plans that will further increase household bills.

The CRU’s approval, part of its Price Review 6 process, officially allows EirGrid and ESB Networks to move forward with these investments, but it also underscores the tension between modernizing the national grid and the financial strain on consumers.