Data from the CRU showed that one in seven households was behind on their electricity bills at the end of 2025.

The CRU says that people who switched to the best available tariff, or those who renegotiated every year for the past four years, could have saved around €2,500 on their bills.

Mr Gannon told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that the increase in standing charges, which will mean an average rise of €100 to domestic bills, is to cover the cost of maintaining the network