Released data by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that gas consumption in 2023 was reduced by 7 per cent compared to the previous year, representing the smallest amount since 2015. CSO reported on Wednesday that this reduction was observed across all economic sectors for the year.
The residential sector experienced the highest reduction, falling by 10 per cent from the previous year. Gas usage in non-residential areas recorded a 5 per cent drop, with power plants displaying the same decrease.
Statistician Kevin Hunt reported that the entire gas usage of the last year was equivalent to 52,575 gigawatt-hours across all sectors. Meanwhile, 65% (amounting to 34,063 gWh) of the total gas used went to power plants. Residential needs accounted for 11 per cent, a component equivalent to 5,981 gWh, whilst the balance of 24 per cent or 12,531 gWh, was accounted for by non-residential spaces like commercial properties.
The median household gas consumption for the state had been 7,544 kWh, a record-low figure since 2014, excluding counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo due to the lack of connection to the gas network. Disregarding Dublin, County Cavan had the highest median residential gas demand at 8,706kWh, while County Waterford had the least demand at 6,016kWh. Within Dublin, postal district 06W had the highest residential gas usage at 9,201 kWh, whereas Dublin 2 had the smallest at 4,796 kWh.
From January to March 2023, residential properties’ gas usage represented 47% of the year’s total, as per CSO. This aligns with Met Éireann’s data which identified this period as the chilliest across the country that year. Lastly, only 6 per cent of all residential gas usage was recorded from July through September the preceding year.