Costs here are 52pc greater than the average of our counterparts in the bloc – and data centres are being blamed

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Micheál Martin in fucking cruise control the last few years. Absolutely stealing a living with the rest of them. McEntee, Brown, O'Brien, O'Callaghan etc. - In case that wasn't clear or obvious enough. I don't think the others would be any better, but I do definitely think a big shake up is needed.

From this article:

Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan claimed the findings of the Household Energy Price Index for Europe show that the operation of a large number of data centres in this country were driving up prices for households.

And from the other day - https://feddit.uk/post/50044307

As the AI boom continues and the appetite for data centres continues to grow, energy minister Darragh O’Brien and enterprise minister Peter Burke are pushing forward with a Large Energy User Action Plan (Leap) to support sustainable post-2030 data-centre development.

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Government urged to act after second report confirms Ireland has highest electricity prices in EU

The Government has been called on to take action after a second report confirmed that this country has the highest electricity prices in the European Union.

The Household Energy Price Index found that Dublin is the most expensive capital city in the EU for electricity.

The index is commissioned by the energy regulators in Austria and Hungary and covers 33 European countries, and includes non-EU members such as Britain and Switzerland.

The May edition of the index comes a month after the European statistics agency, Eurostat, found electricity prices in this country are the highest in Europe.

Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan claimed the findings of the Household Energy Price Index for Europe show that the operation of a large number of data centres in this country were driving up prices for households.

The report looks at the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity, which is a unit of energy measuring total consumption, equivalent to using 1,000 watts of power for one hour.

Ireland has the most expensive electricity of the EU27 with 38.52c per kWh.

This is compared with the EU average of 25.35c per kWh. This means Ireland is 52pc higher than the European average, according to the Household Energy Price Index.

Only Bern in Switzerland, outside the EU, was more expensive than Dublin.

In response to the report, the Department of Energy said Ireland’s long-standing reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation has been a driver of higher energy costs. In addition, prices are influenced by our location as an isolated island, our low-density and widely dispersed population, and our small market scale.

It also said the latest Eurostat report stated that Ireland, in nominal terms, has the highest electricity prices in the second half of last year. However, when adjusted to take account of the “purchasing standard” – practical affordability that takes household income into consideration – Ireland was fifth highest, behind countries like Germany.

That Eurostat report, released last month, found that consumer electricity prices in Ireland are higher than in Germany and Belgium, which are the next most expensive.

Prices per kilowatt-hour in this country are more than 40pc above the EU average, the Eurostat figures show.

It was worked out that the average household in this country is paying around €480 a year more for their electricity compared with the EU average.

Ms Boylan criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for defending data centres, claiming they are driving up bills while ordinary families are pushed to the brink.

The Dublin MEP said: “Dublin is officially the most expensive city in the EU for household electricity.

“This is an appalling situation as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to sit on their hands while more than 300,000 households struggle to pay bills.”

The latest figures come after three energy firms have announced prices rises.

Continue Reading Here - https://www.independent.ie/business/money/government-urged-to-act-after-second-report-confirms-ireland-has-highest-electricity-prices-in-eu/a/155027266.html