Yuno Energy to freeze prices until next year

Yuno Energy has announced it will freeze electricity and gas prices for its 100,000 customers this winter, deferring any price hikes until at least March of next year. This comes after the company hiked rates by 9.5% for electricity and 11% for gas in July, causing an average household's annual electricity bill to increase by €168, and gas bills to rise by approximately €156.

Yuno's managing director, Margaret O'Connor, stated that the price freeze aims to reassure customers amid rising energy costs, especially as winter approaches. PrepayPower, Yuno's sister company and Ireland's largest pay-as-you-go supplier, also announced a price freeze for the winter for its 200,000 customers. Meanwhile, Electric Ireland has declared it will not raise prices this year, following a July increase in its electricity and gas tariffs.

Most major energy providers have raised rates this year. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has implemented enhanced protection measures for energy customers this winter, including changes to repayment terms for those with outstanding bills. According to the latest CRU figures, as of July, 14% (322,234) of domestic electricity customers were in arrears, and 27% (188,882) of domestic gas customers were behind on their payments.