• Pinergy launches ‘WinterLock’ commercial plan to offer price certainty through the winter months to 31 March 2027 without long-term contract tie-ins.
• New study reveals half (50%) of Irish firms have delayed investments or critical growth plans due to persistent energy price uncertainty.

• 73 per cent of firms considering operational cuts to manage winter energy bills with 15 per cent mulling hiring freezes and pay delays.

Pinergy has today announced the re-launch of its dedicated commercial plan, ‘WinterLock’, to support Irish businesses through the high-demand winter months, as new research reveals one in two firms have delayed or cancelled major commercial decisions due to persistent energy price volatility.

WinterLock enables Irish enterprises to fix their electricity unit rates for the period through to 31 March 2027.

The study of commercial decision-makers, conducted by iReach Insights on behalf of Pinergy, reveals the challenges and considerations Irish businesses are weighing up to prepare for the upcoming winter months:

• Operational Disruptions: Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) are considering operational adjustments to manage winter energy bills, including reduced opening hours (28 per cent), staff headcount reductions (15 per cent), and passing cost increases on to customers (14 per cent).
• Stalled Growth: Half (50 per cent) have paused or shelved critical growth plans in the last six months, specifically cutting back or delaying marketing spend (20 per cent), recruitment (15 per cent), and staff pay increases (15 per cent).
• Demand for Certainty: Over eight in ten (81 per cent) stated that guaranteed electricity price stability would deliver critical value to their business planning.

Unlike traditional multi-year fixed contracts that lock businesses in for a long term, WinterLock offers a hybrid structure offering fixed unit rates across the winter months, automatically transitioning back to flexible market rates for spring and summer when wholesale prices traditionally ease.

Today’s announcement comes against a volatile backdrop in wholesale energy markets. Recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) data reveals wholesale electricity prices have surged by more than 72 per cent over the past 12 months to reach their highest levels in almost four years, compounded by growing supply concerns discussed at a recent summit of European Energy Ministers in Dublin.

Commenting on the announcement, Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said:

“Energy costs continue to be a real challenge for businesses, making it difficult to plan ahead with confidence. Our research shows that unpredictable energy prices are affecting more than just the bottom line, with businesses putting hiring and investment plans on hold and even considering shorter trading hours.

“Businesses across Ireland want greater certainty over their energy costs during the winter months. Following the success of last year’s rollout, we’re bringing back WinterLock to help businesses manage their budgets with confidence. It offers price certainty for the coldest and most demanding months of the year, while giving businesses the flexibility to return to market rates when demand eases in the spring.”

Des O’Dowd, Owner & Founder, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa an Irish business owner who utilised the WinterLock offering last year, added:

“Energy price volatility was a significant concern for our hospitality business heading into last winter. By locking in our electricity rate with Pinergy, we gained greater certainty and control over one of our largest operating costs. With savings of up to 10% on our energy-only costs, we were able to forecast cash flow and plan our budgets with greater confidence during a period of higher energy consumption and market volatility.”

The WinterLock plan is available to commercial enterprises of all sizes across Ireland from today.