Households across the country will be hit with a price hike by one of Ireland's largest energy providers.

SSE Airtricity announced the change "in response to sustained increases in wholesale energy costs", it said.

Its standard household gas and electricity prices will increase by up to almost 40% from October 1st.

This change will see a typical electricity bill go up by 35.4% - while a typical gas bill will rise by 39%.

This will mean an additional €1.62 per day for electricity customers, and €1.40 a day for gas customers.

Dual fuel household bills will increase by an average of 37% - equivalent to around €3.02 per day.

The energy provider has previously announced supports to help financially vulnerable customers.

It said these measures include a price promise, which will offset this price change for around 60,000 eligible customers.

An electricity bill is seen in this 2013 file photo. Picture by: Rosemary Roberts / Alamy Stock Photo

"This price promise holds their electricity costs at May 2022 levels until 31 March 2023", the company added.

SSE Airtricity said it will contact eligible customers directly through September with the details of the support.

Klair Neenan is managing director of SSE Airtricity.

She said: "It was hoped market volatility would ease, but the global energy crisis continues to impact gas and electricity costs for all energy suppliers.

"However, we are acutely aware of the impact this has for households and are working hard to help where we can".

She also encouraged any customer who is having difficulty with their energy bills to contact them.

'A kick in the gut'

Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway, Denis Naughten, told The Hard Shoulder the Government is not doing all it can.

"I think it was a kick in the gut to get the figures that we're looking at where we're talking about, over the space of 12 months, over €1,000 of an increase in both gas bills and electricity bills.

"What is really frustrating about this is that there are steps that the Government can take, and should have been taking, but are still sitting on their hands"

He said this should include a "clawback" on excessive profits, and a ban on unnecessary charges.

Deputy Naughten explained: "The Government realised, and the regulator accepted, last April that there was no need for the Public Service Obligation charge on electricity bills.

"They're talking about paying people back later this year.

"However since April, they have taken €26 out of every single electricity customers pocket in additional charges that they didn't need - and that shouldn't be allowed to happen".