Bord Gáis Energy has announced a price increase for its residential electricity customers, but said its price freeze for gas customers will continue. 

Today's electricity price change will increase a typical electricity bill by €6.75 per month and will take effect form April 12. 

In percentage terms, Bord Gáis said this represents an increase of 7.4% on an average electricity bill.

Dave Kirwan, Managing Director at Bord Gáis Energy, said the company could no longer absorb increased network, system and wholesale costs for electricity.

Mr Kirwan said that during these difficult times the company has implemented a range of measures to help its customers and encouraged anyone facing difficulty to engage with it. 

"We're in contact with our most vulnerable customers and commit that no one will be disconnected for non-payment during Level 5 restrictions," he added. 

Earlier, Flogas also announced price increases for its residential electricity and gas customers.

Today's price increases follow recent price rise announcements by SSE Airtricity, Pinergy, Glowpower, Energia and Panda Power in the last two weeks. 

Flogas said its standard electricity and standard natural gas rates are increasing by 8.5% and 6.5% respectively from April 12.

Comparison website Bonkers.ie said the recent increases are hugely frustrating for consumers as they come at a time when energy demand in the home is at record levels due to Covid-19 lockdowns. 

"It always takes a brave person to bet on the future price of energy as the price of gas, and to a lesser extent coal, which make up a large part of our energy generation, can be so volatile," commented Bonkers's Daragh Cassidy. 

"But with the world economy slowly recovering from the effects of the pandemic, it does seem like the demand for energy is only going to increase and therefore put upward pressure on prices in the medium term," he added.

Daragh Cassidy said that despite the rising prices, there is huge competition among the 13 energy suppliers for new customers right now and he urged consumers to make a switch.