Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has strongly criticized a proposal by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) that would offer data centre operators reduced gas network tariffs in exchange for accepting interruptible gas supplies during peak demand periods. Boylan labelled the proposed discount as deeply unfair to households and small businesses facing high energy costs.

Under the arrangement outlined by the CRU, data centre operators would continue to pay standard market rates for natural gas but would receive discounts on network tariffs. In exchange, the operators would agree to interruptible gas connections, meaning their supply could be restricted or paused when the national gas grid comes under pressure, such as during severe cold weather. During such disruptions, facilities would need to temporarily reduce operations or rely on alternative power sources, such as back-up diesel generators.

The regulator stated that the proposed policy is intended to safeguard the security and resilience of Ireland's gas and electricity systems as demand grows. According to CRU analysis, just 17 planned new data centres would have a peak gas demand equivalent to six large gas-fired electricity generators, or roughly the energy consumption of 2.6 million homes. The regulator warned that unmanaged demand expansion could make sourcing sufficient gas challenging during extreme winter weather.

Responding to the proposal, Boylan argued that connecting data centres to the gas network simply shifts pressure from the electricity grid to gas infrastructure rather than addressing broader capacity concerns. She noted that 27 per cent of households connected to the gas grid are in arrears, calling tariff discounts for large corporate entities an insult to consumers struggling with utility bills. Boylan reiterated calls for a complete moratorium on connecting new data centres to the grid.