Best Electricity Provider for Solar Panels in Ireland
If you have solar panels, the electricity supplier you choose directly changes how much you earn for the energy you export to the grid. Every Irish supplier publishes its own Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) rate, and the gap between highest and lowest is now nearly 10 c/kWh. Here is how the eleven Irish suppliers compare for solar households, ranked by export rate.
Last verified 12 September 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
SSE Airtricity pays the highest standard Clean Export Guarantee rate in Ireland at 19.50 c/kWh. SSE Airtricity and Electric Ireland pay 19.5 c/kWh, while Bord Gáis, Energia, Flogas and Pinergy all pay 18.5 c/kWh (Pinergy cut its rate from 25 c/kWh on 1 August 2026). Yuno Energy (17.16 c/kWh) and PrePayPower (15.89 c/kWh) sit at the lower end, while EcoPower is the lowest at 15.2 c/kWh. Switching from a 15 c rate to the market-leading 19.50 c/kWh on a 4.4 kWp system can add €100 to €250 to your annual export earnings.
Compare electricity prices for your home
Rates verified 12 Sep 2026- Home Electric+ SST Discount (20% off, €30 welcome credit)Day 32.43 / Night 17.04 / Peak 34.60 c/kWh€1,395year 1
- Unit rate
- 27.79 c
- Standing
- €251
Unit rate blended on your usage.Standing charge is less €30 credit. - €1,490year 1
- Unit rate
- 29.81 c
- Standing
- €251
Unit rate blended on your usage.Standing charge is less €20 credit. - Smart Data and Discount (17% + 6% direct debit + 4% online billing)Day 30.75 / Night 16.91 / Peak 34.54 c/kWh€1,496year 1
- Unit rate
- 28.84 c
- Standing
- €277
Unit rate blended on your usage.Weighted for rise from 12 Oct 2026. - €1,508year 1
- Unit rate
- 29.14 c
- Standing
- €277
Unit rate blended on your usage.Weighted for rise from 12 Oct 2026. - EnergySaver 24h Discount (16% off, €60 welcome credit)€1,540year 1
- Unit rate
- 31.95 c
- Standing
- €251
Standing charge is less €60 credit.
Year-one cost on each supplier's 24-hour plan and, with a smart meter, every verified day/night/peak and EV plan: band rate × your kWh in that band + standing charge + PSO levy, less any welcome credit and solar export income, with announced price rises weighted by the days you would spend on each rate. EV charging is placed in each plan's cheapest window and, if you tick it, the battery is charged from the grid overnight to displace peak-rate usage. See also the EV, heat pump and home battery tariff pages. Full method: how we calculate.
CEG Rate Comparison: Every Irish Supplier
Sorted highest to lowest. All rates are inclusive of VAT and apply to the standard residential Clean Export Guarantee tariff offered by each supplier.
| # | Supplier | CEG Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SSE Airtricity | 19.50 c/kWh | Quarterly bill credit | Standard rate (19.5 c/kWh). 'Microgen+' premium tier pays standard + 12.5 c/kWh year 1 (~32 c) and standard + 7.5 c/kWh year 2 (~27 c), restricted to customers of the Activ8 Solar/Battery installation programme; not available on switch-in alone. |
| 2 | Electric Ireland | 19.50 c/kWh | Per billing cycle | Variable rate, subject to change. Largest customer base in the country. |
| 3 | Pinergy | 18.50 c/kWh | Monthly bill credit | Reduced from 25 c/kWh to 18.5 c/kWh ex-VAT effective 1 August 2026, bringing it into line with the mid-market. Monthly bill credit. |
| 4 | Bord Gáis Energy | 18.50 c/kWh | Quarterly bill credit (after 3-month wait) | "Microgen Export Plan": 18.5 c/kWh ex-VAT (~20.2 c/kWh inc 9% VAT). Paid quarterly, starting 3 months after registration. |
| 5 | Energia | 18.50 c/kWh | Bi-monthly bill credit | Unlimited exports, no cap on volume paid for. Bi-monthly bill credit. |
| 6 | Flogas | 18.50 c/kWh | Every 2 months | Standard CEG rate effective 6 Nov 2023: 18.5 c/kWh ex-VAT (20.0 c/kWh inc 9% VAT). Bi-monthly credit. |
| 7 | Yuno Energy | 17.16 c/kWh | Twice yearly | 15.75 c ex-VAT, up 8% on 1 July 2026. Partnership rate of 31.32 c/kWh for PV Generation installer customers only. |
| 8 | PrePayPower | 15.89 c/kWh | Twice yearly | 14.0 c ex-VAT. Pay-as-you-go customer base; SEG paid twice yearly. |
| 9 | EcoPower | 15.20 c/kWh | Quarterly | Lowest published standard CEG rate of the active suppliers tracked. |
| – | Community Power | Not published | – | Rate not published online; contact 067-56005 to confirm. |
Rates change without regulatory approval. CRU does not set the CEG rate. Always confirm the live rate on the supplier's own page before switching. We re-verify these quarterly. Newer entrants move most often: see the Yuno Energy export rate and full price-plan breakdown for the latest example.
How the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) Works
The Clean Export Guarantee, sometimes called SEG, the Smart Export Guarantee, or simply "export tariff", is the per-kWh payment your electricity supplier makes for the surplus solar electricity you push back to the grid. It was introduced in February 2022 under EU Renewable Energy Directive II.
1. You generate solar
A typical 4.4 kWp Irish home system generates about 3,800 to 4,200 kWh per year.
2. You self-consume what you can
Most homes consume 30 to 50% of generation directly. A battery raises this to 70 to 80%.
3. The rest is exported
Surplus flows to the grid via your smart meter and is paid for by your supplier at the CEG rate.
For more on the underlying scheme, see our microgeneration guide.
How Much You Earn at Each Rate
For a typical 4.4 kWp home solar system in Ireland exporting roughly 2,000 kWh/year (after self-consumption), here is what each rate is worth annually:
| CEG Rate | Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh) | vs. lowest rate |
|---|---|---|
| SSE Airtricity (19.50 c/kWh) | €390 | +€86 |
| Electric Ireland (19.50 c/kWh) | €390 | +€86 |
| Pinergy (18.50 c/kWh) | €370 | +€66 |
| Bord Gáis Energy (18.50 c/kWh) | €370 | +€66 |
| Energia (18.50 c/kWh) | €370 | +€66 |
| Flogas (18.50 c/kWh) | €370 | +€66 |
| Yuno Energy (17.16 c/kWh) | €343 | +€39 |
| PrePayPower (15.89 c/kWh) | €318 | +€14 |
| EcoPower (15.20 c/kWh) | €304 | – |
Switching from a low-rate supplier to Pinergy can add roughly €200 per year for the typical exporter, or €1,000 to €2,000 over the life of your panels. For high-export households (large systems with no battery), the savings can double.
How to Switch Supplier as a Solar Owner
- Confirm your smart meter is active. The CEG only pays measured exports. You need a smart meter installed and exporting reads. Check via your ESB Networks online account.
- Have your NC6 / mini-generator notification approved. Your installer will have lodged this with ESB Networks. You can't register for CEG without it.
- Check your current contract for early-exit fees. Most fixed contracts allow exit; some smart-tariff bundles charge €50.
- Choose your new supplier and switch online. Switching takes 2 to 14 days; you don't lose power.
- Register the microgenerator with the new supplier. Submit your NC6 confirmation, MPRN and IBAN. First CEG payment usually lands within one billing cycle.
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 12 Sep 2026 and show the current price until each change lands.
- Energia
Electricity and gas prices rise by up to 9.4%. The new-customer 24-hour rate we track goes from 29.85c to 30.45c/kWh and the urban standing charge from €265.01 to €278.27. source
- Bord Gáis Energy
Electricity rises around 9% (typical bill +8.8%). New-customer 24-hour rate 30.78c to 33.58c/kWh; urban standing charge €244.76 to €262.38. source
- SSE Airtricity
Electricity rises around 9%. Top Discount 24-hour rate 28.79c to 31.50c/kWh; urban standing charge €263.86 to €280.01. source
- All suppliers
CRU-approved 2026/27 network charges add 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 lowers every bill by the same amount. source
- Pinergy
Pinergy says a typical bill rises 7.6%. The 24-hour standard rate goes 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
- Yuno Energy
Electricity up 9.5% and gas up 11%. The Clean Export Guarantee rate rose from 15.89c to 17.16c/kWh (31.32c on the PV Generation partnership tier). 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. No universal energy credit is planned for Budget 2027 on 6 October: see what support exists instead.
Tariff leaderboards
The same supplier data, ranked for a different question. Pick the one that matches how your home uses electricity.
Cheapest Electricity in Ireland
Every supplier's 24-hour new-customer plan ranked by annual bill.
Best Suppliers for Solar
Clean Export Guarantee rates ranked, with payment cadence and terms.
You are here
Best EV Tariffs
Night-rate EV plans ranked by unit rate, window and cost per 100 km.
Best Tariffs for Heat Pumps
Night-rate and flat plans costed at 8,000 kWh a year.
Best Tariffs for Home Batteries
Day-to-night spread ranked, plus what a 5 or 10 kWh battery earns.
Electricity Providers for Solar: Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the highest export rate in Ireland?
SSE Airtricity currently pays the highest standard CEG 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 offers up to 32 c/kWh on a premium tier but it is restricted to customers of partner installers.
Can I switch to any electricity supplier with solar panels?
Yes. Every supplier in the Irish market is required by law to offer a Clean Export Guarantee tariff. The rate, payment frequency and conditions vary; the rates above are inclusive of VAT and apply to standard residential CEG plans.
Does the CEG rate change if I have a battery?
No. The CEG pays per kWh exported regardless of how you generated or stored the electricity. A battery reduces how much you export (because you self-consume more) but doesn't affect the rate.
Do I need to wait for a smart meter?
Yes for measured CEG payments. If you don't have a smart meter, some suppliers pay a 'deemed' rate based on assumed exports, but this is usually lower. Contact ESB Networks to upgrade your meter for free.
How often do CEG rates change?
Rates are set commercially by each supplier and can change with 30 days notice. Most providers review rates annually; we re-verify the table above quarterly.
Is the CEG payment taxable?
Under Section 216D of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (as extended by Finance Act 2025 to 31 December 2028), the first €400 per year of CEG export income is exempt from income tax. Income above that is taxable.
Can I be on different suppliers for import and export?
No. Both your electricity supply and your CEG payment come from the same supplier. Switching supplier moves both at once.
Which provider is best for high-export households?
If you have a large system with little self-consumption, the rate matters most: Pinergy, then SSE Airtricity or Electric Ireland on 19.5 c/kWh. If you self-consume most of what you generate, prioritise the import (unit) rate instead, since CEG earnings will be modest.
Provider deep dives
This page ranks suppliers on export rate for solar owners. If you are choosing on price, service and contract terms instead, see our guide to the best electricity provider in Ireland and the cheapest electricity in Ireland price table.
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 microgeneration guidance: cru.ie
Last verified: 12 September 2026
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.
Get Solar Quotes Before You Switch
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