ALONE Urges Immediate Measures as Energy Bill Arrears Highlight Worsening Hardship for Older People
Organisation says Government must act as growing numbers struggle to heat their homes
ALONE, the organisation that supports older people to age well at home, has today expressed deep concern over the figures published by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) highlighting a sharp rise in energy bill arrears across Ireland.
Energy poverty – when a household cannot afford to properly heat or power their home – has worsened in recent years as rising energy prices have put increasing pressure on households. Older people are particularly at risk, with those aged 65 and over almost twice as likely to be affected (Tovar Reaños et al, 2023). Many are living on fixed incomes, in poorly insulated homes, and need more to maintain their health and well-being.
In 2025, ALONE supported almost 46,500 older people nationwide. A growing number sought financial help to cope with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, highlighting the urgent need for stronger and more accessible supports. Despite this growing demand, there are now fewer energy assistance programmes available.
Between October 2025 and February 2026, ALONE delivered almost 1,200 winter-related supports, helping older people access essential payments, grants and utility assistance to stay warm and well at home.
Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said, “Today’s report on rising energy arrears confirms what we are hearing every day from older people across the country. Many are living in cold homes, cutting back on essentials like food, and struggling in silence. This is not just an energy issue; it is a health and wellbeing crisis.”
He continued, “We warned that the Government missed an opportunity to adequately support older people this winter, particularly as one-off cost-of-living measures were withdrawn without being replaced by sustained, targeted supports. What we are seeing now is the impact of that gap.”
Moynihan went on to say, “Older people are more likely to live in inefficient homes, rely on expensive heating fuels like oil, and have limited ability to absorb rising costs. Without better targeted and accessible supports, we risk leaving a generation behind, particularly those living alone and in rural areas.”
ALONE also highlighted the serious health implications of energy poverty. Cold homes are linked to increased respiratory and cardiovascular illness, with evidence showing that GP visits for respiratory infections can rise significantly during colder weather (TILDA, 2016).
The organisation is calling for immediate and sustained action, including:
- Expanding and simplifying access to energy supports and retrofitting schemes
- Ensuring timely delivery of cost-of-living measures
- Targeting supports specifically at older people and those living alone
- Addressing administrative barriers that limit uptake of existing programmes
ALONE reiterated its commitment to supporting older people through its services, which can be accessed through its National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024 or by making a referral on https://alone.ie/make-a-referral/.
“Older people should not have to choose between heating and eating,” Moynihan added. “We need a coordinated, long-term response to ensure that every older person can live safely, warmly, and with dignity in their own home.”
About ALONE
ALONE is a national organisation that enables older people to age at home. Our work is for all older people and aims to improve physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. We have a national network of staff and volunteers who provide an integrated system of Support Coordination, Practical Supports, Befriending, a variety of Phone Services, Social Prescribing, Housing with Support and Assistive Technology.
We use individualised support plans, to address health, financial benefits and supports, social care, housing, transport and other arising needs using technology and through harnessing other services.
We work to empower the whole sector of community support for older people through our Community Impact Network that provides Training, IT support and resources to other organisations.
