How to Switch Electricity or Gas Supplier in Ireland and Cut the Bill

Disclosure: This page includes an optional sponsored offer: if you complete an offer from our partner (OGAds) to unlock the printable bonus, we earn a commission. No bank, credit union or provider pays us, and we don't recommend specific financial products.

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026 by the Smart Savings Guides editorial team. How we research and update articles.

Switching electricity or gas supplier is free, your supply doesn't change, and any credit on your old account is refunded. If you've been with the same supplier for a few years, the CCPC recommends shopping around. Here's how, based on the energy regulator's own guide.

General information, not financial advice. We're not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and don't recommend specific financial products. Rates, prices and rules change, so check the provider and the official sources linked on each page.

What you need

MPRN (Meter Point Registration Number) for electricity, or GPRN (Gas Point Registration Number) for gas. Both are at the top of the front page of your bill.
An up-to-date meter reading, so your final bill is accurate rather than estimated.
Your annual usage, from a bill or from your supplier, for more accurate comparisons.

Step by step (CRU)

Check your contract. There's no charge to switch at the end of a fixed-term contract, but there may be one if you leave midway. A price increase notice may explain whether you can leave without a fee.
Ask your current supplier for a better deal or existing-customer discounts.
Shop around, including on a price comparison website (the CRU lists accredited ones).
Choose and confirm with the new supplier, or through the comparison site. Tell them if there's a vulnerable customer in your home.

Source: CRU: switch energy supplier.

Compare the full-year cost, not the headline discount

Unit rate (cent per kWh) and standing charge (a fixed daily amount) together decide your bill.
How long the discount lasts, and what the rate becomes after.
Exit fees on the new plan.
Smart meter time-of-use plans only save money if you can shift usage to cheaper hours.

After you switch

There's a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel without penalty, extended to 30 days for certain distance or off-premises contracts under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, according to the CRU. Your old supplier sends a final bill and refunds any credit; ask how, and the CCPC suggests leaving your direct debit active until it does. If a complaint isn't resolved by your supplier, the CRU explains how to take it further.

Optional: free printable bills tracker + complaint letters

A printable kit from our UK sister site: a household bills and contract-end tracker, fill-in complaint letters and an annual review checklist. The tracker and letters work anywhere, but the escalation steps in it are written for the UK. In Ireland, escalate to the CRU (energy), ComReg (phone and broadband) or the FSPO (financial services).

Unlock the bills tracker + letter templates (requires trying a sponsored offer)

Optional and sponsored: the bonus unlocks after you complete one offer from our partner, such as trying an app or a survey, and we earn a commission when you do. This guide is complete without it.

Free: the 15-minute subscription check-up

A printable checklist for finding the subscriptions and recurring charges you've forgotten about, and for cancelling or downgrading them. Join our email list and the checklist opens right away.

We haven't started sending emails yet. When we do, expect a few a month at most: new guides, reminders and occasionally a sponsored offer, always labeled. Every email will have an unsubscribe link. We store only your email address, the list you joined, the page and the date, and we never sell or share it. See our privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my credit if I switch electricity supplier?

No. Your old supplier closes the account, issues a final bill and refunds any credit. The CCPC says you don't need to use it up before switching.

Is there a cooling-off period when switching energy supplier?

Yes, 14 days to cancel without penalty, extended to 30 days for certain distance or off-premises contracts.

Does it cost money to switch energy supplier in Ireland?

Switching is free, but you may pay an exit fee if you leave a fixed-term contract early.

Sources

Official sources this article relies on, checked October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.

More guides

← Back to the main guide