Find a Cheaper Electricity Provider and Save Money in 2025!
Call our Selectra agents today for expert and trusted advice on switching electricity providers and make sure that you are getting the cheapest deal on electricity prices. Figures quoted are only available for direct debit payment.
Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.
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To compare electricity prices, you'll need to compare the unit price, standing charges and any additional extra taxes or levies. It's also important to take into consideration any discounts or cashback offers when comparing electricity prices. If you are looking to compare electricity providers, you can call 📞(01) 913 1771.
⚡ Comparing Electricity Prices: The Essentials
Selectra brings you everything you need to know about comparing electricity prices:
To compare electricity prices, you need to know your current unit rate, average consumption and standing charges.
Check which type of meter you have, standard,night saver or smart.
Familiarise yourself with the different tariffs on offer, including any discounts or cashback deals.
In order to compare electricity prices in a way that gives you the best idea of what’s best for your home, when reading your bill, have a look at these figures:
Your Yearly Electricity Usage Everyone uses a different amount of electricity in their regular consumption, so you should know yours to get the most accurate quote possible. You’ll usually find your electricity usage on your bill, where it will state how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you’ve used in a given period. If it’s monthly, simply multiply it by twelve to get the yearly figure.
Electricity Unit Rate Your electricity rate is how much you pay per kWh and is given in cents. This will be multiplied by the number of kWh you’ve used in your consumption to give how much you need to pay.
Standing Charge The standing charge is one of your fixed charges that doesn’t change with how much or little you use. It’s a fee paid for having your electricity connected to your home and is given as a yearly figure.
PSO Levy ThePSO levy is used to subsidise renewable and indigenous energy development in Ireland. Once a year, the government determines the PSO amount. It is currently set at €42.25 per year.
Carbon Tax The Carbon Tax is placed on all carbon emitting fuels and in 2025, the carbon tax is levied at €63.50 per tonne of CO₂ produced.
Valued-Added Tax (VAT) Energy customers also have to pay VAT on their electricity usage. This is currently set at 9%. You will see electricity providers showing both prices with VAT and without.
Comparing Pay As You Go Electricity
PAYG customers will also need to compare the PAYG service charge on top of the annual standing charge when comparing PAYG electricity providers such as Pinergy and PrepayPower.
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How Do I Find My Electricity Tariff To Compare Electricity Prices?
When comparing electricity prices, it's important to know the type of tariff you have for your home, as different tariff types may have more than one unit rate:
This information is contained on your electricity bill and is normally on the second page where your supplier provides a breakdown of your electricity consumption.
24 Hour Meter If you are on a standard 24-hour tariff, you will have just one unit rate on your bill.
Nightsaver or Night Storage If you are on a nightsaver tariff, you will need to divide between the day and the night unit rates. If you have a night storage rate, you will have a normal day rate (like the 24-hour rate) and a lower night rate:
Smart Meter Tariffs Smart meters tariffs will have three rates (T1, T2, and T3) usually with the following time frames:
Day rate (8 am to 5 pm & 7 pm to 11 pm)
Night rate (11 pm to 8 am)
Peak rate (5 pm to 7 pm)
Urban or Rural Tariffs?
Depending on where you live in Ireland, you will have either an urban or rural tariff. Your unit rates will be the same, but the standing charges for rural tariffs are higher than urban. On your electricity bill, the letters ‘DG1’ indicate an urban rate designation, whereas ‘DG2’ are rural rates.
How Do I Calculate My Electricity Usage To Compare Electricity Prices?
Once you know what type of tariff you are on, to compare electricity prices, you will then need to calculate your electricity usage.
This is really important since it’ll help you get a good idea of how much your bills will be with another provider when looking to switch from your current supplier.
You can find your electricity usage in the following ways:
Check Your Latest Bill Your electricity consumption will always be on your latest bill. .
Check Your Smart Meter If you have a smart meter, depending on the model, you should be able to see your monthly (or even yearly) consumption. You will need to push a few button to get to the consumption, but it should be possible to see it.
If you’ve just moved into your property, or you’re on a prepayment meter, you might not know what your annual consumption is.
Here are the current average consumption figures for Ireland:
⚡ Average Usage in Ireland
Meter Type
Times
Average kWh per year
Standard
24 Hour
4,200 kWh
Nightsaver
Day and Night
2,520 kWh : 1,680 kWh
Smart Meter
Day, Night ,Peak
2,520 kWh : 1,260 kWh : 420 kWh
This will give you a figure to work with, but remember that energy consumption figures are usually very individual for each household, so you might use more or less than the average.
Can I Change My Mind After Switching?
In Ireland, you can cancel a change of electricity or gas provider at any stage within the first fourteen days of requesting the switch. This is known as the cooling-off period and comes without paying an exit fee. Simply contact the supplier you were switching to about your decision.
How Do I Find My Standing Charges To Compare Electricity Prices?
Along with charging for the electricity usage, energy companies also charge having the electricity connected to the grid, which is called the standing charge.
In Ireland, this is usually set as a yearly lump sum that can range from €200 to €300.
The standing charge is also part of the fixed costs, along with the PSO levy. The standing charge is added after you’ve worked out your electricity consumption cost.
Standing Charge Example Say, for example, you’re an urban electricity customer and your energy company is offering you a standing charge of €217.08 (not including VAT). To work out how much you’ll pay in fixed costs every month, you’ll need to first at the 9% VAT rate and then divide it by twelve:
This means €19.72 is how much you’ll pay each month on top of your consumption.
How Can I Use the EAB to Compare Electricity Prices?
Your estimated annual bill needs to be worked out by combining everything from above so you get an idea of how much your electricity will cost you throughout a year.
Working out your Estimated Annual Bill To work out your estimated annual bill, you’ll need to have your previous annual consumption ready.
Say for example you used 3,900 kWh throughout the year, and you are using a 24hr urban standard meter, and you are looking to switch electricity providers.
You find an electricity provider willing to offer you the following (excluding VAT):
Unit Rates: 34.00c/kWh Standing Charge: €220 a year
Firstly, we need to first add the 9% VAT onto the rates so we can get a more accurate picture:
Unit Rates: 34.00c/kWh + 9% = 37.06c/kWh Standing Charge: €220 a year + 9% = €236.80
Next, you will need to work out how much you would pay for your electricity with these rates:
Consumption Cost: 37.06c/kWh x 3,900kWh = €1445.34 a year
You’ll then need to add the fixed costs to your consumption costs to get your EAB:
So over the course of a year, you’ll be paying around €1,682.14 for your electricity. This means that you’ll be paying around €140.17 a month!
Comparing Electricity Prices and Cashbacks
Many Irish electricity providers offer a one-time credit to your account when you sign up for a new plan. This is often referred to as a "welcome bonus" or "welcome credit." and is referred to as a cash back offer.
Cashback offers can look very attractive when comparing electricity prices as they lower the annual estimated bill quite significantly but they often can hide expensive unit prices that depending on an individuals consumption, can lead to more expensive annual bills.
Compare the total cost of the plan, including unit rates and standing charges.
Some cashback offers may be tied to longer contracts.
Pay attention to the fine print of the cashback offer for any extra conditions.
Are There Resources for Comparing Electricity Prices?
Comparing electricity prices can be, at times, a little confusing or overwhelming with the variety of tariffs and discounts on offer from each supplier.
To help with the process, there are some resources to help consumers compare electricity prices:
Commission for Regulation of Utilities(CRU): Responsible for regulating the energy market, their website contains useful guides for consumers looking to switch electricity providers.
Individual Supplier Websites: All suppliers display their current offers and tariffs on their websites, along with estimated annual bills for each tariff.
Selectra.ie: If you are still having issues comparing electricity providers, by calling us here at Selectra.ie, our energy experts can help you compare the market and find the best deal for you.
Comparing Electricity Prices FAQ's
How Often Should I Compare Electricity Prices?
It's recommended to compare electricity prices every 12 months to ensure that you are continually getting the best value on your electricity tariff.
By changing every 12 months, you can take advantage of the latest discount and cash back offers.
Are There any Fees When Switching Electricity Providers?
There are no fees for changing electricity provider in Ireland.
The only fees that could apply when switching electricity supplier are an exit fees if you are still in contract with your current provider, or any outstanding debt you owe.
Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.
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