News Update - October

Additional Customer Protection Measures for Customers

Following a review of the additional customer protection measures introduced in recent years, the CRU has determined that these supports remain necessary. This decision comes in response to increasing levels of customer arrears and a rise in the number of individuals seeking assistance from NGOs. As a result, the CRU will continue many of the enhanced protections first implemented in 2022. These measures will be reviewed again in summer 2026. However, two notable changes will be introduced as part of this update:

• The debt recovery ratio on PAYG meters will be increased from 10% of a customer’s vend to 15%.
• Additional requirements have been outlined for suppliers when engaging with indebted customers who may benefit from entering a repayment plan, due to increased levels of customers not being able to complete repayment plans in the past year.

CRU Accredits Price Comparison Website Energy Switch

The CRU has accredited ‘Energy Switch’, a price comparison website in the Irish energy market. The accreditation now brings the number of CRU accredited price comparison websites to four, and will join Bonkers, Switcher and Power to Switch to ensure a wider range of options for customers, when comparing supplier offers to either switch supplier or renegotiate with their current supplier.

The Electricity Network Tariff Structure Review

The CRU has published an information paper to mark the re-commencement of its review of the structure of electricity network tariffs. This review originally began in 2020 but was reluctantly paused in 2022 due to the impact of the invasion of Ukraine, which led to significant challenges around energy costs and security of supply. These developments required a re-prioritisation of the CRU’s work plans at the time.

Gas Networks Ireland Allowed Revenues and Tariffs for Transmission and Distribution

We published an Information Paper on the gas transmission tariffs and tariff information for the coming gas year 2025/26. This paper complements the decision published in June by providing more detailed insights into how the tariffs were calculated. It fulfils requirements under the EU Network Code on Harmonised Transmission Tariff Structures for Gas, ensuring transparency and consistency in tariff setting.

Electricity Transmission and Distribution Network Allowed Revenues and Tariffs

The CRU published two information papers on the Electricity Distribution and Electricity Transmission Network Allowed Revenues for 2026 and the associated Distribution Use of System (DUoS) tariffs and Distribution Loss Adjustment Factors (DLAFs) for the 2025/26 tariff year. This year’s annual revenue and tariff process marks a transitional phase between the Price Review Five (PR5) decision and Price Review Six (PR6). This means the allowed revenue calculations from PR5 and the PR6 Draft Determination assessment collectively inform the revenue to be recovered from customers through electricity network tariffs from 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026.

Uisce Éireann's Water Charges Plan

We published an updated version of Uisce Éireann’s Water Charges Plan. The plan outlines how Uisce Éireann charges its customers for water supply and wastewater services. The approval of the Water Charges Plan by the CRU gives the power to Uisce Éireann to charge its customers. This Water Charges Plan applies from 01 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 (unless revised or updated during that period).