The latest monthly fuel price survey from AA Ireland shows that motorists faced increases at the pumps this October, while electric vehicle (EV) home-charging and household energy tariffs have also climbed a little further.

Key findings included the prize of unleaded petrol increasing to €1.72 per litre in October, up from €1.70 in September; while diesel had gone to €1.68 per litre in October, from €1.67 in September.

As for EV home-charging and household energy, while pump prices have stayed relatively stable, home energy tariffs for EV and domestic electricity customers are increasing: for example, Bord Gáis Energy announced an electricity unit-rate increase of 13.5% and standing charge increase of 12% from October 12.

“A small rise in diesel (1c cent) this month is manageable, however the bigger pressure point will be the increase in household energy costs and EV-charging tariffs that have been live from mid-October. Petrol had a 2-cent increase and families heading into winter now face a double squeeze: higher electricity/EV-charging tariffs and rising living costs in other areas,” a spokesperson from AA Ireland said.

“We strongly encourage EV owners and soon-to-be EV owners to review their home-energy plan and specifically check whether their tariff offers an overnight or off-peak EV-charging rate. Switching to such a tariff can significantly reduce costs and help soften the impact of the upcoming increases,” the spokesperson said.

As well as the Bord Gais price increase, Pinergy implemented an increase of approximately 9.8% in standard electricity tariffs since October 13.

AA has issued tips for motorist and EV owners to try and reduce fuel consumption, with the advice for drivers to adopt smooth acceleration, avoid heavy braking, keep tyres well-inflated, and plan routes to minimise wasted fuel.

EV owners and home energy users are urged to check if they are on a dedicated EV-charging tariff or overnight rate; move as much charging as possible to off-peak hours when your supplier offers a discount; compare and consider switching plans if your current tariff is being increased.

For all motorists and households, the advice is to shop around for the best fuel or energy supplier. Fuel stations outside motorways and airports often offer lower pump prices, and energy-switching sites show that changing supplier or plan can yield substantial savings.

While pump prices have only moved slightly this month, the bigger cost-shock lies ahead for households in the form of higher electricity and EV-charging bills. With the winter months coming, predictability is more valuable than ever and proactive steps now will help manage the increase.

For more information, log on to www.theaa.ie.