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New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth Ireland and Beyond Fossil Fuels reveals that the rapid expansion of data centres in Ireland is silently inflating household electricity bills, creating what the authors call a "hidden data‑centre tax". Datacentre Power Surge Consumes 22% of Ireland’s Electricity According to the Central Statistics Office, data centres used 22% of the nation’s electricity last year – more than the combined consumption of all urban homes. By contrast, the United States and the United Kingdom each see data‑centre demand at roughly 6% of total electricity use. €715 million Drain and €360 Household Cost Spike (2015‑2023) €715 million has been extracted from the Irish economy as a net cost of data‑centre electricity demand. Average household bills rose by a cumulative €360 between 2015 and 2023. Modelling by Seán Fearon, post‑doctoral researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, links the rise to increased hours where gas sets the system price. Ripple Effects on Irish Economy and European Energy Prices Jill McArdle of Beyond Fossil Fuels warns that Ireland’s experience is a warning sign for Europe: unchecked data‑centre growth can amplify energy‑price volatility, especially when combined with fossil‑gas dependence. Industry groups counter that data centres inject capital – €18 billion in recent years – and pay substantial corporate taxes, funding public infrastructure. Future Cost Trajectory: €295‑€644 per Household (2025‑2034) Fearon projects that, depending on growth rates, the average Irish household could incur an additional €295‑€644 in electricity costs over the 2025‑2034 decade, amounting to a national total between €633 million and €1.43 billion. Policy Outlook: Calls for EU Safeguards and Renewable Offsets Stakeholders urge the European Commission to tighten safeguards, ensuring new data centres are matched with renewable‑energy capacity. Without such measures, the sector could lock Europe into a “toxic mix” of high‑demand tech and volatile fossil‑gas pricing.