The Society of St Vincent de Paul has expressed concern that the ESB is cutting power to 30 homes a day because people cannot afford to pay their bills.
The development is a further indication of the difficulty being experienced by householders in the economic downturn.
The ESB has confirmed that on average 900 homes a month are having their power cut, up to 20% higher than the rate in March.
The company has appealed to consumers who get into difficulty in paying their bills to contact them as soon as possible so that repayment arrangements can be reached.
It says 11,000 such arrangements are being entered into each month.
However, the St Vincent de Paul is appealing to the power supplier to exercise further restraint when it comes to cutting off homes.
It says this is especially urgent in the lead up to the winter months.
The ESB stresses that cutting off power is a measure of last resort and most consumers are reconnected within a short period.
Minister for Social Protection Eamon Ó Cuív said his department has spent around €2m already this year helping people who are unable to pay bills.
The Exceptional Needs Payment is available through community welfare officers.
Minister Ó Cuív said the amount is no more than what was paid out last year, an indication that there is not an increasing demand for the payments.
Labour Social Protection Spokesperson Roisin Shortall said the situation will become worse when electricity prices increase in October.
She urged the Government to implement a strategy to financially assist people affected by the carbon levy.
Elsewhere, Bord Gáis is disconnecting fewer customers than this time last year, with around 230 gas customers disconnected each month.
A recent entry to the electricity market, it is disconnecting 120 electricity customers per month.
