Households are paying twice as much for their electricity as data centres according to new figures published by Eurostat.
The figures show that households are paying an average of 36.8c/Kwh for electricity generation, and 7.6c/Kwh for their network costs.
By comparison, big energy users such as Data Centres are paying just 19.1c/Kwh for electricity generation, and just 0.7c/Kwh for their network costs.
This is grossly unfair according to Lynn Boylan MEP, who says that these figures clearly show that the government’s priority is looking after big businesses, not hard pressed households.
The Dublin MEP explained that these figures show households paying 50 – 80% more per unit than these big energy users, and 6 – 8 times more for their network charges.
“At a time when energy poverty is a reality for so many families, this report must feel like a slap in the face” MEP Boylan said.
“Big energy users like data centres are using over 50% of the electricity in Dublin, hoarding grid capacity that could be used to build more badly needed homes, yet they’re contributing a pittance in return for this.
“What’s worse is that just 15% of the Data Centres in Ireland have even given a report on their own energy sustainability – well below the EU average of 36%.
“These data centres are piling pressure onto the grid, but aren’t paying their fair share for what they’re using.
“The government needs to change that. The burden for maintaining and upgrading our grid shouldn’t fall heaviest on the shoulders of households.”
