Ireland 3rd most expensive for household electricity in EU

Ireland had the third highest household* electricity prices in the EU (€25.4 per 110kWh) in the second half of 2014. The most expensive rates were in Denmark (€30.4 per 100 kWh) and Germany (€29.7 per 100 kWh) during the same period, according to figures released by Eurostat today. The EU average cost for household electricity in the second half of 2014 was €20.8 per 110kWh.

 

There was a 5.4% increase in household electricity prices in Ireland between the second half of 2013 and the second half of 2014. This is one of the biggest increases after France (10.2%) and Luxembourg (5.6%). The EU average increase for the same period was 2.9%.

 

The share of taxes and levies in the average household electricity price in Ireland (18%) is below the EU average (32%) and also below those of other high cost countries Denmark (57%), and Germany (52%).

 

Ireland was in the top ten for household gas prices** in the second half of 2014 (€7.5 per 100kWh), paying just above the EU average (€7.2 per 100kWh). The most expensive countries for household gas during the same period were Sweden (€11.4 per 100 kWh) and Portugal (€10.4 per 100 kWh).

 

Expressed in euro, average household electricity prices in the second half of 2014 were lowest in Bulgaria (€9.0 per 100 kWh) and Hungary (€11.5). Average household gas prices were lowest in Romania (€3.2 per 100 kWh) and Hungary (€3.5) during the same period.

 

* Electricity prices refer to prices for a household with an annual consumption of between 2 500 and 5 000 kWh, and include taxes. These prices are weighted by national household consumption to give the EU averages. The final price charged to electricity customers will depend on the structure of electricity tariffs and contracts which normally contain a number of factors, including fixed charges and unit prices that vary according to the amount of electricity and the time of day it is consumed.

** Gas prices refer to prices for a household with an annual consumption of between 5 600 and 56 000 kWh of gas, and include taxes. These prices are weighted by national household consumption to give the EU averages. The final price charged to gas customers will depend on the structure of gas tariffs and contracts which normally contain a number of factors, including fixed charges and unit prices that vary according to the volume of gas consumed.