The figures show that energy suppliers Energia, Electric Ireland, and Bord Gáis Energy had been charging multinationals much less than Irish businesses, with multinational companies (MNCs) paying between 6 and 12 cents per KW/h, while Irish companies forked out up to 41 cents per KW/h.

Meanwhile, Irish households paid between 43 and 45 cents per KW/h for electricity last month.

One of the suppliers mentioned in the figures, Electric Ireland, released a statement to The Irish Sun on the matter, saying: “Throughout late 2021 and 2022 in particular, gas and wholesale electricity prices rose significantly with a corresponding increase in hedging costs for suppliers such as Electric Ireland.

“As such the price of electricity may vary between customers for any point in time depending on when that contract and underlying hedges were secured.

They added: “For example, a company that secured a three-year contract in 2020 for the period 2020-2022 would benefit from the lower 2022 electricity costs as these would have been based on forward hedging costs that applied in 2020 - as opposed to a company that secured a similar duration contract in 2022 when hedging costs had significantly increased.”

In the same statement, the company said they make no distinction between MNCs and domestic companies. The company charged US biotech firm Boston Scientific just 12.25 cents per KW/h last year.