More than 16,000 households had their electricity disconnected last year because they were unable to pay their bills.
The Commission for Energy Regulation is due to publish a report showing that as many as 44 homes a day had their power cut off.
The Society of the St. Vincent De Paul is advising people to get in touch with its organisation if they are in financial difficulty.
It is renewing its calls to energy suppliers to be more lenient saying many cash-strapped families are having to choose between paying for food, school costs or heating.
Spokesperson for the group is John Mark McCafferty.
