Bord Gáis, Energia Raise Electricity Prices October 2026

Three months after summer price increases from Electric Ireland and Pinergy, another wave of electricity price hikes hits Irish households in October 2026. Bord Gáis Energy and Energia have confirmed increases ranging from 4.73% to 8.8%, adding between €87 and €177 to annual electricity bills just as winter demand approaches.

This marks the second round of price increases in 2026, and with wholesale energy costs still rising, it is unlikely to be the last.

Who Is Raising Prices and By How Much?

Bord Gáis Energy (Effective 9 October 2026)

Ireland's largest gas supplier, with around 300,000 gas customers and over 400,000 electricity customers, announced:

• Electricity: +8.8% (€177 per year for typical customer)
• Gas: +9.3% (€140 per year)
• Dual fuel: +9.1% (€317 per year)

Catherine Lonergan, Director of Customer and Commercial at Bord Gáis Energy, said: "Global conflicts resulting in higher wholesale gas costs, together with rising network charges, mean a price increase is now necessary. This is our first gas price increase in four years."

Energia (Effective 12 October 2026)

Energia customers face smaller but still significant increases:

• Electricity: +4.73% (€87 per year, or €1.67 per week)
• Gas: +9.38% (€143 per year, or €2.74 per week)
• Dual fuel: +6.73% (€230 per year, or €4.41 per week)

Energia's electricity standing charge will increase by 5%, while gas standing charges remain unchanged. The company said the increases reflect "continued volatility in global energy markets combined with increased network charges," and noted this is their first gas price increase since 2022.

Network Charges Rising for Everyone

On top of supplier increases, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) approved higher electricity network charges from 1 October 2026, adding approximately €41.25 per year (€3.44 per month) to every household's bill.

The CRU said the increase is needed to fund up to €18 billion in grid upgrades over the next five years, supporting renewable energy connections, data centre demand and improved security of supply.

This follows network charge increases of around €30 in 2025 and over €100 in 2024.

*PSO levy falls from €1.59 to €0.51 per month, saving approximately €13 per year.

Why Are Prices Rising Again?

1. Wholesale Energy Costs Have Doubled

Daragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie explained the scale of the problem: "Wholesale gas prices have doubled compared to this time last year. And wholesale electricity costs for the past six months are up by around 30% compared to the preceding six-month period."

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive volatility in global energy markets. Wholesale electricity prices year to date are approximately 17% higher than 2025.

2. Already High Base Prices

These October increases are landing on bills that are already exceptionally high. Gas prices are around 90% higher than they were four or five years ago, while electricity prices are around 70% higher than pre-2022 levels.

Irish households paid an average of €1,729 per year for electricity in 2026 (at the time of writing September 2026), among the highest rates in the European Union.

3. More Increases Likely Before Year End

Cassidy warned: "We may unfortunately see bills go up again towards the end of the year" as suppliers pass through rising wholesale costs to retail tariffs.

The pattern is clear: electricity prices are rising faster than inflation, and there is no sign of a return to pre-2022 levels.

What This Means for Irish Households

If you are a Bord Gáis electricity customer, your annual bill is set to increase by €177 from 9 October. Add the €41 network charge increase, and you are looking at €218 more per year, even after the PSO levy reduction.

For a household using 4,200 kWh per year (the typical Irish consumption figure), that works out to an effective rate of around €0.42 to €0.45 per kilowatt-hour including standing charges, VAT and all network fees.

And with more price increases expected before year end, 2027 could start even higher.

The One Price That Has Not Changed: Solar

While electricity suppliers raise prices twice in three months, there is one generation source that has remained rock solid: your own roof.

Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost. Once installed, the fuel (sunlight) is free. A typical 5 kWp home solar system in Ireland costs around €6,000 to €6,500 after the SEAI grant of €1,800 (at the time of writing September 2026).

Over 25 years, that system will generate approximately 117,500 kWh of electricity. Divide the upfront cost by the total output, and you get a lifetime cost of €0.05 to €0.06 per kWh.

Compare that to the €0.42 to €0.45 per kWh you are now paying from the grid.

Real-World Example

A household using 4,200 kWh per year currently pays around €1,870 annually for electricity (including standing charges). A well-sized solar system can offset 40% to 60% of that consumption, depending on usage patterns and whether you have a battery.

• 40% solar offset: Saves €748 to €900 per year
• 60% solar offset (with battery): Saves €1,100 to €1,300 per year

At current electricity prices, payback periods for solar in Ireland are now 5 to 7 years. After that, you are generating electricity for free while grid prices continue to climb.

What About Switching Suppliers?

Switching to a cheaper supplier can save money in the short term, but it does not solve the underlying problem. All suppliers are exposed to the same wholesale energy costs and network charges. When wholesale prices rise, every supplier eventually passes those costs on.

Bonkers.ie advises households to compare prices and switch if savings are available, but switching alone will not insulate you from future price increases.

Solar does.

Final Thoughts

October 2026 marks the second wave of electricity price increases this year, with Bord Gáis, Energia and network charges all rising simultaneously. Irish households are now paying 70% more for electricity than they did in 2021, and with wholesale costs still climbing, further increases are expected before year end.

The only way to truly hedge against rising electricity prices is to generate your own. Solar panels lock in a fixed cost per kilowatt-hour for 25 years or more, immune to wholesale gas prices, geopolitical conflicts and network charge increases.

Over 200,000 Irish homes have already made the switch. The question is not whether electricity prices will keep rising. The question is how long you will keep paying them.

Ready to Lock In Your Electricity Costs?

Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed lifetime cost of €0.05 to €0.06 per kWh, while grid prices keep climbing. With the SEAI grant at €1,800 (at the time of writing September 2026), there has never been a better time to take control of your energy bills.

Get your free solar quote from WattCharger and see how much you could save starting today.