IRISH electricity prices are among the cheapest in Europe, according to an international survey of electricity utilities.

In the domestic sector, ESB was the third cheapest in the EU with householders paying about 30 per cent less than in Belgium.

According to the survey published by the Electricity Association in London, the only countries with cheaper electricity were Portugal and Finland.

However, the survey was done on January 1st, 1997, before the ESB's 2 per cent price increase.

According to the ESB, Ireland would still be among the cheapest and would remain below the EU average.