Electricity prices in Ireland have skyrocketed in recent years, with the cost of electricity now almost 3 times more than in 2012. Around 34% of our electricity comes from natural gas – which can be vulnerable to global market fluctuations. This leaves Ireland more exposed to price swings in the energy sector than some other European countries.

For the past 2 years, Government payments have reduced energy bills for Irish households after prices soared in 2021, peaking in August 2023.

Because of high costs, energy price comparison is essential. We recommend switching providers every year to get the best deal. This page will explore how electricity comparison works, giving you all the information you need to save hundreds on your bills!

Compare Electricity Prices Ireland

Compare Electricity Prices

Comparing energy prices can be complex due to the sheer number of unit rates on offer from the 11 electricity providers available in Ireland. Essentially, the unit rate will depend on the tariff you choose, which is determined by the electricity meter you have and whether you are a rural or urban customer.

It is important to know how much electricity costs in Ireland. On a standard tariff, an average 3 bedroom house will typically pay around €1,700 with a standard meter. However, how much you will actually pay for electricity will depend on two things:

  • 1
    Your consumption – i.e. how much electricity you need to power your home.
  • 2
    The unit price from the tariff that you have. This can vary wildly depending on the provider, whether you are on fixed or variable rates, and whether it is a smart or standard meter.

Because of substantial Government subsidies for energy bills over the past two years, 58% of households paid under €1,000 for electricity in 2023 (despite prices remaining high).

  • The average home in Ireland uses 4,200 kWh of electricity per year.
  • The median electricity bill in Ireland was €880 in 2023
  • Total electricity bills in Ireland amounted to €2.56 billion in 2023.
  • The average annual electricity bill is €1,710.

The best way to cut down on your electricity and gas expenses is by comparing energy deals and switching providers once a year. Doing so could result in annual savings of over €700.

Discounted Electricity Rates

Switching your electricity plan each year is critical to make sure you are on the lowest possible tariffs.

It’s free to switch and it can save you thousands.

Compare Energy Providers in Ireland

There are currently 11 energy providers in Ireland. Let’s look at each of these energy companies and look at what they have to offer to customers.

Which companies provide electricity in Ireland?

Bord Gáis Energy solar provider

Bord Gais Energy

Gas & Electricity

Community Power

Electricity Only

ecopower

Ecopower

Electricity Only

Electric Ireland

Electric Ireland

Gas & Electricity

Energia solar provider

Energia

Gas & Electricity

flogas solar provider

Flo Gas

Gas & Electricity

pinergy solar panels

Pinergy

Electricity Only

PrepayPower solar provider

Prepay Power

Gas & Electricity

SSE Airtricity solar provider

SSE Airtricity

Gas & Electricity

WaterPower

Electricity Only

Yuno Energy

Gas & Electricity

Types of Electricity Plans

Before you begin to compare plans, you must first know which plans you are eligible for as there are different tariffs available for smart meters and standard meters (which can both be 24 hour or time-of-use), as well as separate rates for urban and rural households. Comparing rates can be difficult, as there are many variables that can influence the outcome and determine which plan is cheapest for your unique circumstances. Our price comparison calculator will do this for you.

Smart Plans

A smart electricity plan is any plan which uses a smart meter. A typical smart time-of-use tariff consists of 3 separate rates, but not all providers divide their smart unit rates according to these times. Smart plans can also have 24-hour set unit prices.

  • Day – From 8am to 11pm (excluding ‘peak’ hours)
  • Peak – From 5pm to 7pm
  • Night – From 11pm to 8am

If you haven’t yet received your smart meter from ESB Networks, you will soon — as smart meters should be installed on every home in Ireland by 2025. The best way to find out which tariff would save you the most money is to fill out our free quiz – it only takes a minute (and it could save you hundreds of euro).

Standard Plans

Standard plans can be more expensive for some households as unit rates remain constant during the day unlike time-of-use smart plans. This means that powering up your appliances at night for example won’t cost any less than during peak daytime hours.

Night Boost / EV Rates

For electric car owners, smart night boost plans can be a great way of saving money as they offer extremely low rates for 3 to 4 hours to charge overnight.

Fixed or Variable Rate Plans

Electricity Plans can also be divided between those with fixed or variable electricity rates, which will significantly affect the price.

Fixed Rate plans mean that your electricity rates will not change for the duration of the contract. These fixed rates are lower than variable rates, but you will not benefit if rates are slashed during the period of the contract.

Variable rate plans will have higher rates when you sign up, but they may decrease over time as utility providers cut prices. However, rates may also increase as well as decline.

How to Compare Electricity Plans in Ireland

  • 1

    Meter Type: You will need to know which meter you are using to compare electricity plans, as providers offer different plans for customers with standard meters and smart meters.

  • 2

    Urban vs Rural: Similarly to customers with standard or smart meters, customers in rural or urban areas also have different tariffs and standing charges available to them.

  • 3

    Fixed or Variable Rates: Rates for electricity plans may be fixed for the duration of a contract, or subject to change, with fixed rates typically lower.

  • 4

    Electricity consumption: Knowing your household electricity consumption will help you calculate the savings that you can make by switching providers. The average is 4,200 kWh.

  • 5

    Green energy: Some providers are extremely serious about prioritising green energy, and some provide only 100% renewable energy.

  • 6

    Discounts: Getting a first-year discount can shave hundreds of euros off your bills. Also bear in mind standing charges.

  • 7

    Welcome Bonus: Electricity providers may provide a cash welcome bonus for people signing up for certain plans.

Stop Overpaying For Your Electricity

Find our how much you can save and switch to a lower rate in minutes. It’s 100% cost and commitment free.

  • Find your current plan

  • Compare to other plans out there
  • Switch to the cheapest plan available
  • Annual notifications of the cheapest plans

  • Switch in 1 click

Cheapest Electricity Plans in Ireland

Electricity Supplier Plan Annual Cost
Yuno 1 Year Fixed Electricity (Card and eBill) €1,267
Energia Standard Electricity 38%(Direct Debit and eBill) €1,270
SSE Airtricity 1 Year Fixed Electricity (Direct Debit and eBill) €1,271
Bord Gáis Energy New Electricity Only – 32% Discount (Direct Debit and eBill) €1,307
Electric Ireland EnergySaver 28% (Direct Debit and eBill) €1,344

Home Energy Calculator Ireland

Our Electricity Comparison Calculator will give an estimate of what a user’s electricity bill is likely to be in the coming year and tell them how much they can save by switching.

The calculator allows users to select what type of region they live in, whether they are on a standard or smart plan, how they are billed, what their electricity plan is and when they entered into the contract.

Using this information the calculator provides an estimated annual bill for the coming year, and recommends plans which will save users money on their electricity bills.

How to Switch Electricity Providers

Switching energy providers has never been easier, and has a number of benefits. Many homeowners are approached by salespeople. The reality is that many households are not availing of the best deal available to them, either because they think it is too much effort, or because they simply don’t know that they could be saving hundreds of euros on their bills.

Benefits of Switching

Promotions
To entice households to switch to their company, many energy companies offer promotions and discounts for the first year to new customers.

Cost
The cost of switching is free – and you could save hundreds per year due to overall lower unit prices or switching to a plan that better fits your needs.

Services
The services offered by providers can differ, and customer service can be better once you have switched.

How often can you switch?

We recommend switching to the cheapest electricity provider every year. One-year offers are standard, and this gives you the best of all worlds in terms of promotions and first year unit rate discounts.

FAQs

Electricity customers are divided between Urban and Rural regions. This may affect their electricity rates but the biggest difference is in their Sanding Charge. This is an annual charge associated with the costs of providing your electricity supply, with Rural customers typically paying more.

A Nightsaver electricity meter and plan measures the amount of electricity a customer uses during daylight and nighttime, with lower electricity rates at night.

Nightsave plans are better for households which use a significant portion of their electricity late at night. For example, households which need to charge an electric vehicle overnight.

If you have a smart meter installed, you choose between a 24-hour tariff where the unit rate remains constant throughout the day and night, or a time-of-use plan which has different unit prices depending on the time of day.

Electricity can come from many different sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and fossil fuels. In recent years, there has been a renewable energy energy boom which means more of our electricity now comes from green sources.

There are many ways to reduce your household energy bills, and the number one way is to improve the energy efficiency and Building Energy Rating (BER) of your home. This can involve upgrades to insulation, windows, doors and installing solar panels or a heat pump.

Average electricity costs are based on the average annual household electricity consumption of 4,200kWh and Electric Ireland’s 24 hour Standard Energysaver tariff.

Save on your Home Electricity Bill Today

Saving money on your electricity bills has never been easier – and we will guide you along every step of the way. Take our quick assessment today to find out how much you could save!

It’s Never Been So Easy To Switch Energy Providers!

View, compare and switch online in minutes. Plus, get notified each year of new offers so you are always on the cheapest plan.

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How we can help:

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  • Every electricity plan is listed

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