Best Electricity Rates in Ireland
An Irish electricity bill has three moving parts: the unit rate (cents per kWh you use), the standing charge (a fixed daily fee, regardless of usage), and, if you have solar panels, the Clean Export Guarantee rate (what you're paid for surplus you export). The "best" rate balances all three for your usage. Here's how every supplier compares.
Last verified 4 November 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
The best electricity rate in Ireland depends on your usage and on which new-customer discount is biggest at the time you switch (discounts of 20 to 40% typically run for 12 months). Low-usage homes should prioritise a low standing charge; high-usage homes a low unit rate. Solar homes should weigh the Clean Export Guarantee rate too. SSE Airtricity pays the highest standard export rate at 19.50 c/kWh.
The unit rates and standing charges below reflect each supplier's typical new-customer discounted plan for a standard 24-hour urban meter, inclusive of 9% VAT. Discounts run for 12 months before reverting to the supplier's standard rate. Verified 2026-10-28.
Electricity Unit Rates Compared
The unit rate is the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) you consume, inclusive of VAT. It is the biggest lever for high-usage homes. New-customer discounts (not shown here, because they change constantly) typically knock 20–40% off the standard rate for 12 months.
| # | Supplier | Standard Unit Rate (24hr) | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SSE Airtricity | 31.50 c/kWh | View |
| 2 | Electric Ireland | 31.95 c/kWh | View |
| 3 | Energia | 32.19 c/kWh | View |
| 4 | Bord Gáis Energy | 32.67 c/kWh | View |
| 5 | PrePayPower | 37.62 c/kWh | View |
| 6 | Yuno Energy | 39.10 c/kWh | View |
| 7 | Community Power | 39.96 c/kWh | View |
| 8 | Pinergy | 41.22 c/kWh | View |
| 9 | EcoPower | 42.20 c/kWh | View |
| 10 | Flogas | 44.00 c/kWh | View |
Electricity Standing Charges Compared
The standing charge is a fixed annual fee (typically €250–€400) you pay regardless of how much electricity you use. It is the biggest lever for low-usage homes: a holiday home or a small flat can pay more in standing charges than in actual electricity.
| # | Supplier | Standing Charge (urban, 24hr) | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electric Ireland | €250.77/year | View |
| 2 | Bord Gáis Energy | €262.38/year | View |
| 3 | Yuno Energy | €264.73/year | View |
| 4 | Energia | €278.27/year | View |
| 5 | SSE Airtricity | €279.99/year | View |
| 6 | Pinergy | €283.47/year | View |
| 7 | Community Power | €302.01/year | View |
| 8 | EcoPower | €302.37/year | View |
| 9 | Flogas | €305.68/year | View |
| 10 | PrePayPower | €342.69/year | View |
Electricity Export Rates (Clean Export Guarantee) Compared
If you have solar panels, this is the rate your supplier pays you for surplus electricity you export to the grid. Rates are inclusive of VAT and apply to the standard residential Clean Export Guarantee tariff. The gap between the highest and lowest is nearly 10 c/kWh.
| # | Supplier | CEG Export Rate | Payment Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SSE Airtricity | 19.50 c/kWh | Quarterly bill credit |
| 2 | Electric Ireland | 19.50 c/kWh | Per billing cycle |
| 3 | Pinergy | 18.50 c/kWh | Monthly bill credit |
| 4 | Bord Gáis Energy | 18.50 c/kWh | Quarterly bill credit (after 3-month wait) |
| 5 | Energia | 18.50 c/kWh | Bi-monthly bill credit |
| 6 | Flogas | 18.50 c/kWh | Every 2 months |
| 7 | Yuno Energy | 17.16 c/kWh | Twice yearly |
| 8 | PrePayPower | 15.89 c/kWh | Twice yearly |
| 9 | EcoPower | 15.20 c/kWh | Quarterly |
Full detail on each supplier's export terms, caps and conditions is in our electricity providers for solar comparison.
Supplier profiles
Irish Electricity Price Changes 2026
Every announced change we have verified on the supplier's own site, newest first, with the date it takes effect. The rates on this page were last verified on 28 Oct 2026 and show the current price until each change lands.
- Yuno Energy
New-customer Variable Discount Plan repriced. The 24-hour urban rate went from 34.85c to 39.10c/kWh and the urban standing charge from €219.22 to €264.73; Variable Smart became 41.39c day, 26.08c night, 47.65c peak. Yuno's EV Standard Smart plan closed to new customers on 16 October, and Yuno's pricing page says a winter price freeze on electricity and gas runs from 13 October 2026 to 1 March 2027. source
- Energia
Electricity unit rates rose 4.73% and gas 9.38%. The standard 24-hour rate went to 43.50c/kWh and the urban standing charge from €265.01 to €278.27. With the combined new-customer discount now 26% (it was 30%), the 24-hour rate we track went from 29.85c to 32.19c/kWh. The EV Smart Drive charge-time rate rose to 12.25c/kWh after the 10% discount. source
- Bord Gáis Energy
Electricity unit rates up 9.1% and standing charges up 7.2% (typical bill +8.8%). Standard 24-hour rate 41.59c to 45.38c/kWh; urban standing charge €244.76 to €262.38. The new-customer discount is now 28% (it was 26%), so the 24-hour rate we track went from 30.78c to 32.67c/kWh. source
- SSE Airtricity
Electricity rose around 9%: the standard 24-hour rate went from 41.13c to 45.00c/kWh. Top Discount 24-hour rate 28.79c to 31.50c/kWh; urban standing charge €263.86 to €279.99. source
- All suppliers
CRU-approved 2026/27 network charges added about €41.25 a year (€3.44 a month) to a typical domestic electricity bill after the regulator trimmed network revenue allowances by €138 million. Every supplier passes these charges through. source
- All suppliers
PSO levy cut by 66% for the 2026/27 levy year, to €0.51 a month for domestic customers (€6.12 a year ex-VAT, €6.67 inc VAT, down from €19.10). It is charged by every supplier, so it lowered every bill by the same amount. source
- Pinergy
Pinergy said a typical bill would rise 7.6%. The 24-hour standard rate went from 41.77c to 45.80c/kWh (up 9.6% on the unit rate) with the standing charge unchanged. The pay-as-you-go plan we track is priced at 10% off that standard rate. source
- Pinergy
Clean Export Guarantee cut from 25c to 18.5c/kWh, and the EV night rate rose from 5.99c to 10.89c/kWh. source
- Flogas
Electricity and gas rates increased. The standard 24-hour rate is now 44.00c/kWh and Flogas lists no new-customer discount plan; the 28% loyalty discount is for existing customers only. source
- Electric Ireland
Residential electricity up 8% and gas up 7.7%, the first Electric Ireland rise since October 2022, affecting about 1.1 million electricity customers. The EnergySaver 24-hour new-customer rate we track is 31.95c/kWh after the change. source
Full details of each rise, with before-and-after rates, are on the electricity price increases page. The underlying market is tracked daily on the wholesale electricity prices page. Budget 2027 on 6 October contained no universal energy credit: see what support exists instead.
Best Electricity Rates in Ireland: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good electricity unit rate in Ireland?
It moves with wholesale energy prices, so 'good' is relative. The real win is the new-customer discount: most suppliers knock 20–40% off the standard unit rate for the first 12 months. Compare the discounted rate for your usage, not the headline standard rate.
What is the standing charge on electricity?
A fixed annual fee (typically €250–€400) that covers the cost of being connected to the grid, regardless of how much electricity you use. It's higher for rural (Band 2) supply than urban (Band 1) supply. Low-usage homes should prioritise a low standing charge.
Is a low unit rate or a low standing charge better?
Depends on your usage. High-usage homes (electric heating, EV, large household) save more from a low unit rate. Low-usage homes (small flat, holiday home, well-insulated home) save more from a low standing charge. Compare the estimated total annual cost for your kWh figure.
What's the best electricity export rate in Ireland?
SSE Airtricity currently pays the highest standard Clean Export Guarantee rate at 19.50 c/kWh. Pinergy previously led at 25 c/kWh but cut its rate to 18.5 c/kWh on 1 August 2026. SSE Airtricity has a higher tier (~32 c/kWh year one) but it's restricted to customers of its partner installer programme.
Why don't you list live electricity rates here?
Standard unit rates and standing charges change frequently, and the discounted rates that actually matter for switchers change even more often. We re-verify standard rates quarterly and point you to CRU-accredited comparison tools for live figures. The Clean Export Guarantee rates we do publish are verified and updated quarterly.
Do day/night and smart tariffs offer better rates?
They can, if your usage matches the cheap window. A day/night meter or smart tariff gives a lower night rate (and sometimes a higher peak rate). Worth it if you can shift big loads (EV charging, immersion heater, washing) to off-peak hours; not worth it if your usage is spread evenly through the day.
Sources
- Pinergy: pinergy.ie
- SSE Airtricity: sseairtricity.com
- Electric Ireland: electricireland.ie
- Bord Gáis Energy: bordgaisenergy.ie
- Energia: energia.ie
- Flogas: flogas.ie
- Yuno Energy: yunoenergy.ie
- PrePayPower: prepaypower.ie
- EcoPower: ecopower.ie
- Community Power: communitypower.ie
- CRU price comparison accreditation: cru.ie
CEG export rates last verified: 4 November 2026. Import rates last verified: 2026-10-28.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the editor of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
Related Guides
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Export Payments
Sell surplus electricity at 15–32c/kWh.
The Best Rate of All Is the One You Generate
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