CRU Winter Protections 2026/27: New Rules to Help Irish Households Avoid Disconnection

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published additional winter protections for 2026/27 this month, strengthening the help available to Irish households that fall behind on energy bills. The measures require suppliers to offer repayment plans of at least 18 months, to treat upfront payments as optional rather than mandatory, and to look for practical solutions within their own supports before referring a customer to MABS or St Vincent de Paul. A five-month disconnection moratorium continues for vulnerable customers. With energy prices up 15.3% in the year to September 2026, these protections matter more than they have in years.

What Did the CRU Change for Winter 2026/27?

The regulator's package is aimed at customers in arrears, and it turns rules that were once soft guidance into firm requirements.

• Repayment plans must be affordable. Suppliers must build a plan around what a household can realistically sustain, not a flat formula.
• At least 18 months to repay. Customers must be given a minimum of 18 months to clear energy debt.
• Upfront payments are optional. A supplier cannot insist on a lump sum before agreeing a plan.
• Suppliers must help first. Before sending a customer to MABS or SVP, a supplier has to try solutions inside its own support framework.
• The moratorium continues. A five-month disconnection moratorium remains in place for special services customers, with full protection for critical services customers.
• Vulnerable register promotion. Suppliers must advertise the vulnerable customer register by SMS, email and on their websites by 4 December 2026.

*Details correct as of October 2026. Customer protection measures are set by the CRU and can be updated.*

The full list of measures is set out in the CRU's announcement.

Who Do the New Protections Cover?

The protections apply to any household struggling with an electricity or gas bill, and they go furthest for customers on the vulnerable register.

• Special services customers, such as those who depend on electrically powered medical equipment, keep the five-month disconnection moratorium.
• Critical services customers have full protection from disconnection at all times.
• Any customer who contacts a supplier about arrears is entitled to a repayment plan built around what they can afford.

The CRU notes that disconnection levels remain low, but the reason for the change is clear. Arrears are high across the market, and the regulator wants suppliers to act early rather than let a debt build into a crisis.

How Much Are Irish Energy Bills Rising?

The context is a second wave of price increases this autumn.

• Bord Gáis Energy raised electricity and gas prices from 9 October 2026, adding about €177 a year to a typical electricity bill.
• Energia increased its prices from 12 October 2026, with average electricity bills up around €87.
• Energy prices overall rose 15.3% in the 12 months to September 2026, according to the CSO.

Protections soften the shock, but they do not reduce a bill. That is why the more durable answer is to need less grid electricity in the first place.

How Can You Cut Your Energy Bill for Good?

Over time, the most effective protection against rising prices is to generate and store your own power.

• Rooftop solar panels cut the units you buy, typically covering 30% to 50% of a household's electricity across the year.
• A home battery stores cheap night-rate power, or your own daytime solar, and releases it during the expensive evening hours.
• A smart tariff plus a battery shifts most of your consumption into the cheapest window, as our guide to charging an EV on off-peak electricity explains.

At the time of writing (October 2026), SEAI offers up to €1,800 for solar PV and a €600 grant for a battery of 5 kWh or larger, and our SEAI grant guide sets out how to claim both.

What Should Households Do Next?

• If you are in arrears, contact your supplier and ask for a repayment plan under the new rules rather than waiting for a letter.
• Register for your supplier's vulnerable customer list if anyone in the home depends on power for medical needs.
• Get your home assessed for solar and battery so that next winter's bill is lower, whatever happens to prices.

Final Thoughts

The CRU's winter protections give households real breathing room, with 18-month repayment plans, optional upfront payments and a continuing moratorium for the most vulnerable. They are a safety net, though, not a fix. The homes that feel price rises least are the ones generating and storing their own electricity, which is why solar and battery storage remain the most reliable way to bring a bill down for the long term.

Ready to Cut Your Energy Bills for Good?

WattCharger designs solar panel and home battery systems for Irish homes, and handles the SEAI grant paperwork from start to finish. Get in touch for a free consultation and see what your roof and your tariff could save you.