The Commission for Electricity Regulation has announced an increase of 5% in the cost of electricity for domestic users.
The increase, which is part of an annual review, will come into effect in the New Year.
The cost of electricity for small and medium businesses is set to rise by an average of 4% while industrial users face an increase of 6%.
The Commission says the increase will put an average of 8c a day on the average home electricity bill.
The ESB says much of the increase is due to market driven forces beyond the company's control.
A spokesman for the Consumers' Association said it was another unfair burden on citizens.
Growing concerns about energy supply
The increase comes at a time when there are growing concerns about the adequacy of the current energy supply to meet growing demand.
Already the ESB is offering discounts to certain large customers who are prepared to accept a scaling down of their electricity supply in the event of pressure on the ESB national grid.
The Regulator, Tom Reeves, has already advertised for private companies to build a new power station to meet the increase in demand for energy.
The ESB is not permitted to tender for the contract.
At present, the ESB frequently has to rely on mobile emergency generators to maintain national supply.
