How to Switch Electricity Supplier in Ireland
Switching electricity supplier in Ireland takes about ten minutes online, your power is never cut off, and the typical home saves €200–€500 a year by moving onto a new-customer discount. There's no engineer, no new meter, and on a standard plan, usually no exit fee. Here's exactly how to do it, and what changes if you have solar panels.
Last verified 12 September 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
To switch electricity supplier in Ireland: (1) note your MPRN and annual kWh usage from a recent bill, (2) compare deals for your usage on a CRU-accredited site, (3) sign up online with the new supplier (10 minutes; you don't contact the old one), (4) submit a meter reading on switch day. The switch completes in 2 to 14 days with no interruption to your supply. Solar households should re-register their microgenerator with the new supplier afterwards. Most standard plans have no exit fee.
Switching Electricity Supplier: Step by Step
1.Check your current contract
Look at your latest bill or your online account for your current unit rate, standing charge and contract end date. Most standard plans have no exit fee; some smart-meter or bundle tariffs charge around €50 to leave early. Note your discount end date: that's your cue to switch.
2.Find your MPRN and recent usage
Your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is an 11-digit number on your bill, and your new supplier needs it. Also note your annual usage in kWh; it's the single most important number for comparing deals accurately.
3.Compare deals for your usage
Use a CRU-accredited price comparison site, or our cheapest electricity and best electricity rates pages, and compare the discounted unit rate plus standing charge for your kWh figure, not the headline standard rate. If you have solar panels, also compare the Clean Export Guarantee rate.
4.Sign up with the new supplier
Do it online in about 10 minutes. You'll need your MPRN, address, bank details for direct debit, and a meter reading (or let them estimate). You don't need to contact your old supplier; the new one handles the switch.
5.Submit a meter reading on switch day
On (or close to) the switch date, submit a reading to both suppliers so your final bill from the old supplier and first bill from the new one are accurate. The switch itself takes 2–14 days and your power is never interrupted.
6.If you have solar: re-register your microgenerator
Switching moves both your import supply and your Clean Export Guarantee payment to the new supplier. After the switch, give the new supplier your NC6/mini-generator confirmation, MPRN and IBAN so your export credits keep flowing. First CEG payment usually lands within one billing cycle.
Not sure which deal to switch to? See our cheapest electricity in Ireland comparison, electricity price comparison, and best electricity provider guide.
Switching Electricity Supplier When You Have Solar Panels
Solar households can switch like anyone else, but there's an extra step, and an extra thing to compare. Both your electricity supply and your Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payment come from the same supplier, so switching moves both at once. After the switch, you re-register your microgenerator with the new supplier (NC6 confirmation, MPRN, IBAN) and CEG credits resume, usually within one billing cycle.
When comparing, don't just look at the import unit rate. Weigh the CEG export rate too. The gap between the highest and lowest CEG rate in Ireland is nearly 10 c/kWh, worth roughly €150–€350 a year on a typical system. SSE Airtricity pays the highest standard CEG rate at 19.50 c/kWh. See our electricity providers for solar comparison for the full ranking.
| # | Supplier | CEG Export Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SSE Airtricity | 19.50 c/kWh |
| 2 | Electric Ireland | 19.50 c/kWh |
| 3 | Pinergy | 18.50 c/kWh |
| 4 | Bord Gáis Energy | 18.50 c/kWh |
| 5 | Energia | 18.50 c/kWh |
Top 5 by standard CEG rate. See all suppliers.
When Should You Switch?
- When your discount expires. New-customer discounts run for 12 months, then your rate jumps to standard pricing. Switching again at that point is the single biggest saving available, so set a calendar reminder for month 11.
- When you move home. Don't default to whoever supplies the property. Compare and switch within the first few weeks.
- When you get solar panels. Review whether your current supplier's CEG rate is competitive; if not, switch to capture the higher export rate.
- When prices move. If wholesale energy prices fall, suppliers cut rates and add discounts. A good moment to re-compare.
- Any time, really. There's no penalty on a standard plan and no minimum stay. If you find a better deal, take it.
One thing you cannot do is lock a price in. No Irish supplier currently sells a fixed-rate electricity plan, so the 12-month term on a discount plan protects your discount, not the underlying rate, which can still rise during the contract.
Irish electricity suppliers you can switch to
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.
Switching Electricity Supplier in Ireland: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to switch electricity supplier in Ireland?
The switch itself takes 2 to 14 days from when you sign up. Signing up takes about 10 minutes online. Your electricity supply is never interrupted during the switch.
Will my power be cut off when I switch?
No. Switching supplier is a billing change only. The physical electricity connection, wires and meter stay exactly the same. You won't notice anything except a new supplier on your next bill.
Do I need to contact my old supplier to switch?
No. Your new supplier handles the entire switch, including notifying the old one. You just submit a final meter reading around the switch date so your closing bill is accurate.
Is there a fee to switch electricity supplier?
On a standard plan, usually not. Some smart-meter tariffs and bundled deals charge an early-exit fee of around €50 if you leave before the fixed term ends, so always check your current contract first.
What do I need to switch electricity supplier?
Your MPRN (11-digit number on your bill), your address, bank details for direct debit, and ideally your annual usage in kWh and a current meter reading. The whole sign-up takes about 10 minutes.
Can I switch electricity supplier if I have solar panels?
Yes. Switching moves both your electricity supply and your Clean Export Guarantee payment to the new supplier at once. After the switch, re-register your microgenerator with the new supplier (NC6 confirmation, MPRN, IBAN) and your export credits resume, usually within one billing cycle.
How often can I switch electricity supplier?
As often as you like; there's no minimum stay on a standard plan. In practice, switching once a year (when your new-customer discount expires) captures most of the available saving.
Will switching affect my bill payment dates or pay-as-you-go meter?
Your billing cycle is set by the new supplier and may differ slightly. If you're on a pay-as-you-go meter, switching to a billed supplier requires a meter change; switching between pay-as-you-go suppliers does not. Check with the supplier you're moving to.
Sources
- CRU switching guidance & accredited comparison sites: cru.ie
- ESB Networks (meter readings, MPRN, microgeneration): esbnetworks.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.
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