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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Data centre electricity prices

Summary

Deputy O’Gorman argued data centres pay much less than households for electricity and asked why that is fair during a cost-of-living crisis. The Minister said pricing is set by the regulator, rejected the attack on digital infrastructure, and argued the focus should be on energy affordability for households.

Will the Minister explain how it is fair for Irish consumers to pay almost double what data centres pay for electricity? At a time when energy costs are still a cause of real financial hardship for many households across the country, data centres are paying almost half what households pay per kilowatt hour of electricity. They also pay dramatically less in network standing charges, so householders are actually being done over twice. Will the Minister explain why it is fair that data centres get energy at such discounted prices in comparison with Irish households?

Comment on this

As Deputy O'Gorman knows, the pricing system is decided by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which sets the pricing parameters for individual consumers and for large energy users, including data centres. We need to move away from this polarising argument regarding households and digital infrastructure. Ultimately, we need to support households more. That is the work of the energy affordability task force. The argument to which I refer really shows a degrowth philosophy to try to undermine digital infrastructure in our State. That will undermine growth capability in the longer term. AI and digital infrastructure will play a critical role in that growth. We need to be cognisant of that in the context of the attacks on digital infrastructure we see from some Members.

Comment on this