Households facing energy price hikes are being urged to submit meter readings to ensure they are charged for their usage at the correct rate.
Electric Ireland is increasing residential electricity bills by 26.7% and gas bills by 37.5% from October 1. Standing charges have not risen. The move will add €37.20 per month to the average electricity bill and €42.99 per month to the average gas bill, impacting around 1.1 million electricity customers and 150,000 gas customers.
It is the third time Electric Ireland has increased its prices in five months.
A spokeswoman said: “Electric Ireland customers who wish to submit a meter reading can do so online by logging into their account. Usage will be charged at the applicable rate at the time of use.”
Similarly, Bord Gais Energy is increasing its prices for the second time this year from October 2, affecting 350,000 electricity customers and 300,000 gas customers.
The unit price of its electricity is rising by 45.7% and its gas by 48.6%. The standing charge is not increasing.
This will add around €579 a year to the average electric bill and €526 to an average gas bill.
A spokesman for Bord Gais Energy said: “We are actively encouraging customers to submit meter readings to us and these readings can be used for bill calculations.”
And Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has warned that the energy crisis will last two years.
The Green Party leader said he is confident that EU countries will reach agreement on implementing new measures in a bid to reduce soaring energy prices but warned it will not cushion the entire blow for households.
Mr Ryan made the comments as he arrived for a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels on Friday morning.
They met in an attempt to approve the implementation of emergency windfall levies on energy companies.
He said: "As we turn to other supplies (of gas) rather than Russian supplies, there will be a moderating impact on the price.
"But, in the last number of months, we've realised this is going to be a two-year challenge, not a one-year one.
"It's not one winter we have to fight for - we have to think about how we provide and protect next winter as well.
"That should influence the approach we take so that we have reserves, and that's why unity is important.
"We've to stay united for two years to get through in all likelihood. Please God it will be sooner, please God that war will come to an end sooner, but we can't be certain of that and, therefore, we have to prepare for a more medium-term approach."
Mr Ryan described the European Commission's proposals as "good ones".
"They allow us to address some of the excess profits going to the energy industries and to bring it back to help our people," he said.
"Each country has slightly different circumstances but that broad principle... that the unfair profits caused by a war, not by any action of any companies, do have to be brought back in to help people with bills.
"I believe the Commission text does that."
However, the Dublin Bay South TD said the EU "cannot cushion the entire blow" of rising energy prices.
"There will still be a higher cost; even if a large amount of these windfall gains are recycled, that still leaves a pretty high price.
"So we have to be energy-efficient - but we have to help our people too, and businesses."
Mr Ryan also said Europe would have to co-ordinate more closely with both gas-exporting countries and gas-consuming countries.
"We also have to work internationally," he said.
"We have to work with some of the supply countries - Norway, UK, America.
"We have to work with other major consuming countries like Japan, Korea, because we are in the LNG market."
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