Households could save up to €500 a year by switching energy providers, but where are the best deals?
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills.
Cut-the-Cost will offer tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts.
We’re kicking off this week by taking a deep dive into the electricity deals on offer at every energy company in Ireland.
If you’re ready to make the switch, look no further:
Yuno Energy
- Best Offer: Fixed Discount
- Price per Year: €1,765.29
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €264.73
- Unit Rate: 38.04c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €360.45
- Unit Rate: 41.27c /kWh
Waterpower
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year:€1,777.29
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €264.97
- Unit Rate: 38.32c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €386.11
- Unit Rate: 38.11c /kWh
Community Power
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year: €1,840.87
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €240.35
- Unit Rate: 40.42c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €277.95
- Unit Rate: 40.42c /kWh
Flogas
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year: €1,851.36
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €302.92
- Unit Rate: 39.18c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €380.46
- Unit Rate: 39.18c /kWh
SSE Airtricity
- Best Offer: 15% on Electricity
- Price per Year: €1,866.02
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €240.97
- Unit Rate: 38.59c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €302.48
- Unit Rate: 38.59c /kWh
SSE Airtricity has announced a price decrease for customers from November 1st.
Electric Ireland
- Best Offer: 5.5% or 8.5%
- Price per Year: €1,923.19
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €302.92
- Unit Rate: 40.89c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €380.46
- Unit Rate: 40.89c /kWh
Electric Ireland is to cut its energy prices for customers from November.
Energia
- Best Offer: 10% on all tarriffs
- Price per Year: €1,970.51
- Urban Standing Charge €217.08
- Rural Standing Charge €276.06
Energia is to cut its prices for customers from October which will see a reduction of 20% on its unit rates.
Bord Gáis
- Best Offer: 10% on all tarriffs
- Price per Year: €2,005.58
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €281.12
- Unit Rate: 43.37c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €352.90
- Unit Rate: 43.50c /kWh
Ecopower
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year: €2,019.69
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €331.81
- Unit Rate: 42.50c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €365.62
- Unit Rate: 42.50c /kWh
PrepayPower
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year: €2,148.12
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €369.27
- Unit Rate: 41.54c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €482.58
- Unit Rate: 41.54c /kWh
Pinergy
- Best Offer: No Discount
- Price per Year: €2,307.51
- Urban Meter Standing Charge: €283.47
- Unit Rate: 46.62c /kWh
- Rural Meter Standing Charge: €313.78
- Unit Rate: 46.62c /kWh
Pinergy is to cut its prices for customers from October, which the company has said will see a 9.5% decrease to the typical household cost.
There are also savings to be made for people on pre-pay meters, as well as those with a nightsaver.
A nightsaver meter works best for those who use over one-quarter of their electricity usage during the night.
Switching a light switch. Picture by: Jack Lane / Alamy Stock PhotoBonkers.ie spokesman Daragh Cassidy told Newstalk there are plenty of savings to be made.
“In most cases, the average household will save around €400 or €500 a year by switching," he said.
"It could be even more depending on the rate you're currently paying and the amount of energy you use.
This is the year when you really do not want to be overpaying for your energy."
How to switch
Mr Cassidy has this advice for people looking to switch.
"The best rate for you will depend on your location - urban or rural - the type of meter that you have, when you use your energy, and the amount of gas/electricity you consume," he said.
“There’s a lot to consider - but a price comparison website does pretty much all the legwork for you.
“To switch, all you need is your MPRN for electricity and GPRN for gas and a recent meter reading.
"It also helps if you know roughly how much energy you use each year as it'll help you know your potential savings. "
An image symbolic of energy costs with an electricity meter with Euro banknotes. Picture by: imageBROKER / Alamy Stock PhotoMr Cassidy said people should not have any fears about making the switch.
"Sometimes people are afraid that something will go wrong during the switch and that they may be left without power for a few hours or a few days; but this is pretty much impossible," he said.
"There’s only one gas grid and one electricity grid. No matter who your supplier is, your energy will come through the exact same pipes and wires.
"All you’re doing is switching supplier," he added.
Figures from selectra.ie as of 03/08/2023
