Is Pay As You Go Electricity Cheaper?

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

As of October 2024, the cheapest PAYG electricity provider is PrepayPower for €1,842.28 a year. This is €636 more expensive than the current cheapest standard electricity plan. Pay as you go electricity offers the advantage of knowing exactly how much you are spending, but is often more expensive than price plans for standard electricity meters.

Is Pay As You Go Electricity Cheaper Than Standard Electricty?

No. In general, pay as you go electricity is much more expensive than standard electricity price plans.

As of October 2024, the cheapest PAYG electricity provider is PrepayPower for €1,842.28 a year.

This is €636 more expensive than the current cheapest standard electricity plan. Not only do you pay standard rates with pay as you go electricity, but a pay as you go service charge as well.

The table below breaks down the estimated annual bill from the three pay as you go electricity providers, including their service charges.

⚡ Pay As You Go Providers Estimated Annual Bill

Provider	Unit Rate	Standing Charge	PAYG Service Charge	Estimated Annual Bill
Contact Details	33.62c	€342.67	€131.65	€1,878
Contact Details	35.83c	€250.77	€131.45	€1,887
Contact Details	37.03c	€283.47	€163.12	€2,043

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only. Calculations based on average consumption figures for an urban home with a PAYG meter. All discounts and cashback have been applied.
Last updated: October 2024

If we compare these estimated yearly bills against standard electricity providers, we can see that pay as you go electricity is significantly more expensive.

⚡ Cheapest Electricity Offer per Supplier

Supplier	Best Offer	Estimated Annual Bill
Contact Details	Fixed Discount	€1,242.72
Contact Details	28% on Standard Electricity	€1,246.43
Contact Details	33% on Standard Electricity	€1,257.40
Contact Details	37% off Electricity	€1,270.59
Contact Details	Fixed Rate Offer	€1,271.62
Contact Details	22% on Standard Electricity	€1,374.98
Average Annual Electricity Bill in Ireland, €1,394.70
	25% on Standard Electricity	€1,474.24
	No Discount	€1,490.47
Contact Details	No Discount	€1,878.07
Contact Details	No Discount	€2,034.98
Call to Switch Energy Supplier Today! 01 913 1771 Click to Get a Free Callback! Free Callback

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only. Calculations based on average consumption figures for an urban home with a standard meter. All discounts and cashback have been applied.
Last updated: October 2024

In addition to lower costs, customers on standard credit meters can benefit from sign-up discounts, online switching discounts, dual-fuel discounts, paperless billing discounts, and direct debit discounts when switching provider.

Which Suppliers Offer Pay As You Go Electricity?

There are currently just three Pay As You Go electricity suppliers in Ireland:

1. Electric Ireland
2. Pinergy
3. PrepayPower

These suppliers provide the PAYG meter "free" of charge. “Free” is a bit misleading, as this option results in a higher PAYG service charge in order to recoup the cost.

Most electricity providers do not supply Pay As You Go electricity in Ireland unless the customer requests it and can prove financial hardship and the need for a pay as you go meter to help them manage their costs.

What Is Pay As You Go Electricity in Ireland?

Pay As You Go (PAYG) electricity meters allow you to pay for your electricity before you use it, much like with prepaid mobile phones. In Ireland, these prepayment meters are topped up with specific electricity cards, except for smart PAYG meters.

With Pay As You Go electricity meters, you only pay for the electricity that you actually use. These types of meters can be a good option for those who prefer to budget their spending ahead of time.

Your credit will be deducted from the meter as you consume electricity. It's important to make sure you always have credit on your meter. Unless you have emergency credit, your electricity supply could be cut off if you use up your balance.

Should I Switch to Pay As You Go Electricity?

We advise thinking long and hard before switching to Pay As You Go electricity, as saving money on your energy bills is easier with credit meters.

Below, you will find some of the pros and cons when it comes to pay as you go electricity:

What Are the Pros of Pay As You Go Electricity?

• Reduce Energy Usage
  It can enable you to reduce your energy usage, save energy, and reduce your household’s carbon footprint, and you're being impacted by the carbon tax.
• Budget More Easily
  You can budget your home energy more easily, particularly if you’re on a low or variable income, especially with electricity prices so high in Ireland.
• No Meter Readings
  There is no need to submit meter readings or needing to rely on inaccurate estimations of how much you're using.
• No Energy Bills
  You don’t need to pay large monthly or bimonthly energy bills without any billing errors.
• Access To Emergency Credit
  Emergency credit is available to Pay As You Go customers as a last resort. You can’t be cut off in the evenings, at the weekend, or on certain holidays should your credit run out.
• More Manageable Debt
  If you have built up some debt from unpaid bills, it can be a more manageable form of repayment.
• Better for Rentals
  It’s useful for landlords as they avoid the risk of being left with large bills to pay if a tenant leaves the rental property without settling their account.

What Are the Cons of Pay As You Go Electricity?

• Higher Standing Charges
  It will cost you more money on your bills even when you’re not using any energy (for example, if you go on holiday) due to higher standing charges and the PAYG charge. This is on top of other obligations such as the PSO levy.
• Extra PAYG Charge
  Due to the extra PAYG charge, it’s more expensive than even standard rate tariffs. “Free” installation of PAYG meters is not really “free” as it results in a higher PAYG charge with living costs already high.
• Hard To Switch Back After Debt
  If you’re not in debt or undergoing financial hardship, switching from a PAYG meter to a traditional credit meter, or vice versa, could incur some hefty charges (from €100-€300).
• Manual Updates
  If your Pay As You Go electricity plan is updated and any of the charges are changed, you’ll need to manually enter a code (40–60 digits long) instead of being automatically updated.
• Moving Is Complicated
  If you move to a new house where there is a PAYG meter, you’ll need to re-register it with your details as soon as possible, otherwise, you could be paying the wrong tariff.
• Hard To Keep Track of Costs
  If you need to use emergency credit, all standing charges will be suspended and build up as debt that you’ll need to repay on top of the emergency credit next time you top up, increasing your average costs.
• Top Up Shops Far Away
  Outlets to purchase credit might be far enough away to be a hassle to get to - or worse if your car breaks down, or you’re ill. In addition, if you can’t afford to top up, you’ll very quickly be left in the dark without electricity.
• No Opt-In
  You cannot opt in to PAYG if you or anyone in your household is critically dependent on electrically powered equipment, and it’s generally not recommended for vulnerable consumers or for certain cases regarding customers who need special services.

How Do You Read Pay As You Go Meters?

A pay as you go meter will not show you your current reading on the screen, instead it will display your credit.

To get a meter reading, simply press number nine on the keypad.

Be aware that many PAYG meters have two components, the meter, and the keypad (which is normally positioned to the side of the meter).

How Do I Top Up My Prepaid Electricity Meter?

Topping up your Pay As You Go electricity meter depends on which energy provider you are with and whether you have a smart meter. In most cases, both smart meters and pay-as-you-go meters can be topped up in the following fashion:

1. Via SMS.
2. Your energy supplier’s app.
3. Your provider’s online portal.
4. At any Payzone point.

If you are supplied by one of the main PAYG energy providers, select your company's dedicated top-up guide from the list below for provider-specific details.

• Electric Ireland
• Pinergy
• PrePayPower

If you’re feeling a little confused about how to read your meter and access the different options, have a look at our handy meter reading guide.

What Do I Do If I Lose My Top-Up Card?

If you’ve lost your electricity top-up card, then you’ll need to contact your electricity provider to order a new one. They can also provide you with your keypad number, which you can use to top up in the meantime.

There is normally a nominal charge of no more than €2 for replacing your electricity PAYG card.

If you lose your Pay As You Go electricity receipt before you top up your meter, you can either call your electricity supplier’s customer services, and they can give you the last purchased top-up code.

Alternatively, you can go back to where you bought the credit, and they will reprint the receipt for you. The minimum top-up amount you can make is €10, and the maximum amount is €100.

Make sure to take a photo!Take a photo of the front of your electricity PAYG card as soon as you receive it, or write down the number on it somewhere you can always access, such as in your online email account. This is your keypad number, which you can also use to top up your meter should you lose your top-up card or misplace it.