What Types of Electricity Plans Are Available in Ireland?
In the Irish market, electricity tariffs are broadly divided based on how the unit rate (kWh) is applied across a 24-hour period, which is heavily influenced by the type of meter installed.
The most common types of electricity plans available are:
- Standard 24hr
- Nightsaver
- Time of Use (ToU) and Smart Tariffs
Standard 24hr Plan
The Standard 24hr Plan is the most straightforward tariff:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | You pay a single, flat unit rate for all electricity consumed, regardless of the time of day it is used. |
| Best For | Households with low overall consumption or those who cannot easily shift their high-use activities to off-peak hours. |
| Meter Type | Typically used with a standard, single-rate meter (Meter Configuration Code - MCC01). |
Nightsaver Plan
The Nightsaver plan is the original time-of-use tariff in Ireland, designed to reward off-peak electricity use:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | It uses a two-rate structure: a Day Rate and a significantly cheaper Night Rate |
| Night Rate Hours | The discounted Night Rate usually applies for a nine-hour period, typically from 11 PM to 8 AM in winter and 12 AM to 9 AM in summer (adjusted for daylight savings). The Day Rate applies during the remaining 15 hours. |
| Best For | Households that use a large portion of their electricity (ideally 30-40% or more) during the night, such as those with storage heaters or a high reliance on timers. |
| Meter Type | Requires a Day/Night meter (MCC02). |
Time of Use (ToU) and Smart Tariffs
Time of Use (ToU) tariffs, often referred to as Smart Tariffs in the Irish market, are made possible by the national rollout of smart meters.
These tariffs introduce three or more price bands, allowing for greater savings potential but also a greater risk of higher peak charges:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | Electricity is charged at different rates depending on three key time bands: Day, Peak, and Night |
| Standard Smart Tariff (SST) Bands | Day: Usually 8 AM to 5 PM and 7 PM to 11 PM (Moderate Rate). Peak: Usually 5 PM to 7 PM (Highest Rate). Night: Usually 11 PM to 8 AM (Lowest Rate). |
| Best For | Customers with an active smart meter who can reliably shift high-consumption activities away from the 5 PM to 7 PM peak time. |
| Other Smart Options | Many suppliers offer variations, such as the 'Night Boost' (an even cheaper rate for a 2-3 hour window in the early morning) or the 'Weekender' (free or heavily discounted electricity all day on Saturday or Sunday). |
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Are There Specialised Electricity Plans Available in Ireland?
Pay As You Go (Prepay)
Pay as you go electricity plans provide the maximum level of cost control by removing the possibility of accumulating a large, unexpected bill:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | A specialised prepayment meter is installed. The customer must top up their credit using a card, a physical top-up point, or a mobile app before the electricity can be used. |
| Best For | Households that prioritise budgeting and want to avoid debt, though the unit rate and standing charges can sometimes be higher than bill-pay options. |
EV Electricity Plans
These are essentially highly optimised Time of Use plans specifically designed for Electric Vehicle (EV) owners:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | They offer an ultra-low unit rate during a specific overnight window (e.g., 2 AM to 5 AM) to incentivise charging the car when national grid demand is lowest. |
| Best For | EV owners who charge their vehicles primarily at home and can set their EV charger to operate during the deep off-peak hours. |
Dynamic Electricity Plans
While dynamic plans are not yet available to Irish energy customers, they represent the newest and most flexible type of tariff, reflecting real-time market prices.
Dynamic electricity tariffs are mandated to be available in the Irish market by June 1, 2026.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | The price per kWh is not fixed but changes frequently, sometimes hourly or even half-hourly, based on the wholesale cost of electricity. |
| Best For | Tech-savvy users with flexible energy consumption who are willing to actively monitor and adjust their use throughout the day to take advantage of low-cost periods. |
Green Electricity Plans
A Green Electricity Plan guarantees that the supplier matches the energy consumed by the customer with an equivalent amount of renewable energy generated and fed into the grid.
At present, the following suppliers offer green electricity plans:
- Electric Ireland
- Bord Gais
- Ecopower
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | The energy supplied to your home remains the same, but the supplier purchases electricity from certified renewable sources (wind, solar, etc.) to offset your usage. They are verified by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). |
| Best For | Environmentally conscious consumers. These plans may have slightly higher unit rates, though many standard discounted plans are now also certified as 100% green. |
Dual Fuel Plans
Dual Fuel plans simplify household utilities by bundling both electricity and natural gas supply under a single provider and a single bill:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| How it Works | You receive one bill for both services and deal with one customer service department. Suppliers often offer a greater total discount for taking both services. |
| Best For | Homeowners who use both electricity and natural gas and value the convenience of having a single supplier. It is advisable to compare the bundled price against the cost of taking the cheapest electricity-only and gas-only deals from two separate suppliers. |
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How Do Electricity Plans Billing, Pricing, and Meters Work in Ireland?
Electricity Plan Billing
An electricity bill is composed of three main elements:
- Unit Rate (kWh): The price per unit of electricity consumed. This is the variable part of the bill, and the rate you pay is determined by your chosen tariff (Standard, Nightsaver, Time of Use, etc.).
- Standing Charge: A fixed daily or annual fee charged by the supplier to cover the cost of providing the meter, billing, and maintaining the network connection. This is applied regardless of how much electricity you use.
- Government Levies: These include the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy, a government-mandated charge to support renewable energy and power generation capacity.
Variable vs Fixed Rate Electricity
Fixed Rate plans provide essential budgetary certainty, locking in the price of the unit rate and standing charge for the contract period.
Variable Rate plans follow the market, meaning your price could increase or decrease at any time with notice.
| Feature | Variable Rate Plan | Fixed Rate Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Rate | Can rise or fall based on the wholesale cost of energy. | Is guaranteed not to change for the duration of the contract (typically 12 months). |
| Flexibility | High. Can benefit from market price drops. | Low. Cannot benefit from market price drops. |
| Security | Low. Risk of price increases. | High. Provides certainty for budgeting. |
| Typical Use | Standard tariffs, usually after a fixed-rate contract expires. | Discounted tariffs for new customers. |
Standard vs Smart Meters
- Standard Meter: This is the older, traditional meter. It measures total consumption or, in the case of a Day/Night meter (Nightsaver), separates it into two time bands. It requires manual meter readings (or estimates) for billing. These meters limit your choice to Standard 24hr or Nightsaver plans.
- Smart Meter: Being rolled out nationwide by ESB Networks, the smart meter records consumption every 30 minutes. It sends automatic, accurate readings to your supplier, eliminating estimated bills. Crucially, a smart meter is required to access all Time of Use (ToU), EV, and Dynamic tariffs. A customer with a smart meter can choose to remain on a standard 24hr plan or Nightsaver tariff if they prefer.
How Do I Choose and Switch My Electricity Plan in Ireland?
How to Choose the Right Electricity Plan
Choosing the best plan requires an honest assessment of your home's energy profile:
- Assess Your Consumption: Look at your most recent electricity bill to determine your total annual kWh consumption. If you have a Nightsaver meter, check your Day/Night usage ratio.
- Evaluate Your Schedule: Do you work from home (high daytime use)? Do you run the washing machine and dryer mostly after 11 PM (good for Nightsaver)? Do you cook dinner consistently between 5 PM and 7 PM (bad for Smart/ToU Peak)?
- Check Your Meter: If you have a smart meter, you can unlock greater savings with a Time of Use tariff. If not, your options are limited to Standard 24hr and Nightsaver (if you have the corresponding meter).
- Compare the Estimated Annual Bill (EAB): Compare the estimated annual bill (EAB) for different suppliers and plans based on your actual consumption data. Focus on the EAB, not just the discount percentage.
How to Switch to an Electricity Plan
Switching is a simple, free, and quick process managed entirely by your new supplier.
- Find Your Details: You will need your current supplier's name, your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number), and a recent meter reading. Your MPRN is on every electricity bill.
- Compare and Select: Choose the best new plan based on the lowest EAB for your usage profile.
- Apply Online or by Phone: Contact the new supplier. They will handle the entire switching process, including notifying your current supplier.
- Cooling-Off Period: You have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel the switch without penalty.
- Final Bill: Your old supplier will send you a final, accurate bill based on a closing meter read, and your new contract will begin. Be aware of any early exit fees if you are switching while still in a fixed-term contract.
Ready to Switch and Save on Your Energy Bills?
Our energy experts at Selectra compare all 11 Irish suppliers to find you the lowest rate for your home — completely free.