Electricity & gas in Ireland: your rights
The rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Ireland, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.
What is going on?
Everything at a glance
The market
You can choose your electricity and gas supplier, and switching is free. ESB Networks runs the electricity network and Gas Networks Ireland the gas network; they handle meters, faults and outages whoever your supplier is.
Energy regulator
Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)
Dispute resolution
CRU Customer Care Team (complaint resolution service) · free
First make a formal complaint to your supplier or network operator. They should give a final answer within two months. If you are still unhappy, bring it to the CRU Customer Care Team free of charge.
Compare prices not run by the state
CRU-accredited price comparison websites: Bonkers.ie, Switcher.ie, PowerToSwitch.ie, EnergySwitch.ie
Switching supplier
Contact your chosen supplier (or use an accredited comparison site) with your MPRN or GPRN and a meter reading; the switch runs through ESB Networks after the cooling-off period. Free at contract end; breaking a fixed-term contract early may cost a fee.
Price rises
Suppliers must tell you in writing about any changed conditions after a promotional deal ends at least 30 days before it ends. No specific notice period for other price changes was confirmed on CRU pages.
Regulated price
Retail prices are not capped. Suppliers set their own tariffs; the CRU monitors prices and competition.
Help if money is tight
There is no social tariff, but welfare supports help: the Household Benefits Package electricity or gas allowance (mainly 70+) and Fuel Allowance for people on certain social welfare payments (or 66+). Apply through the Department of Social Protection.
Protection against cut-off
Suppliers must try to contact you at least 4 times and send a written notice at least 10 working days before disconnection, and offer payment plans (up to 18 months). Registered vulnerable customers get a winter ban; those dependent on powered medical equipment can never be cut off.
If your supplier goes bust
If your supplier exits, the CRU moves you automatically to the Supplier of Last Resort: Electric Ireland for electricity, Bord Gáis Energy for gas, on their standard tariff. Your supply is not interrupted; you can then switch.
Power cut
Report power cuts to ESB Networks on 1800 372 999 (24/7) or check PowerCheck. If you are without power 24 hours after reporting, domestic customers can claim €65 plus €35 per extra 12 hours (not in storms); claim within one month.
Cooling-off period
For contracts signed at your door, by phone or online you have 30 days to cancel under the Consumer Rights Act 2022; for contracts signed on the supplier's premises it is 14 days.
Smart meter
ESB Networks is replacing all electricity meters with smart meters at no upfront cost. Old analogue meters are no longer installed; tell ESB Networks before installation if you object, as the CRU will not order removal afterwards.
Solar panels
Homes with solar panels or other microgeneration are paid by their supplier for every kWh exported. Each supplier sets its own CEG rate. Your installer registers the system with ESB Networks (NC6/NC7 form); you need a smart meter.
Free energy advice
SEAI gives free energy-saving advice and home upgrade grants, including solar PV. If you are struggling with bills, MABS, the State's money advice service, gives free confidential help on 0818 07 2000.
Fixed and dynamic contracts
Since 1 June 2026 the five electricity suppliers obliged by the CRU must offer a "Standard Dynamic Price Contract", whose unit rate varies every half hour with wholesale prices. It suits smart-meter customers who can shift their use.
- Under Irish law (S.I. No. 20 of 2022) you can get a dynamic price contract from any supplier with more than 200,000 electricity customers: Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, PrePay Power/Yuno and SSE Airtricity (CRU, 2024). (cru.ie)
- Protections: dynamic prices are capped so extreme peaks are limited, suppliers must publish the next day's 48 half-hourly prices in advance, and you must be told the risks before you sign up. (cru.ie)
- Fixed-term contracts must be clearly marked. Your supplier must write to you 30 to 60 days before a fixed term ends, show your current and new estimated annual bill, and state that there are no penalties for switching when the contract expires. (cru.ie)
Energy sharing and communities
Households take part in community energy through SEAI. Over 1,000 Sustainable Energy Communities work on a Learn–Plan–Do approach, with 100% SEAI funding for an energy master plan. SEAI's Community Enabling Framework helps groups develop grid-scale renewable projects.
- The Community Enabling Framework is Ireland's response to the EU requirement to support renewable energy communities (Directive (EU) 2018/2001). An SEAI trusted advisor carries out feasibility studies for community projects. (seai.ie)
Heating without the gas grid
District heating is not yet specifically regulated. The Government approved a revised Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in July 2026: it would give the CRU powers over tariffs, complaints handling and vulnerable customers of district and communal heating.
- The CRU regulates LPG safety, not LPG prices. Suppliers of piped LPG networks need a CRU safety licence (Calor and Flogas hold one). (cru.ie)
- By law, any gas work in your home, natural gas or LPG, must be done by a Registered Gas Installer, who must give you a Declaration of Conformance (Completion) Certificate. (cru.ie)
Grants for heat pumps and insulation
SEAI runs three routes: individual grants (Better Energy Homes, incl. insulation, heat pump, solar PV) for homeowners and landlords; a complete upgrade to at least BER B through a registered One Stop Shop, which deducts the grant upfront; and free upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme for eligible households.
- You must have grant approval before starting any works. (seai.ie)
- Heat pump grant: for homes with an MPRN built and occupied before 2021. As of 30 September 2026 SEAI lists up to €14,500 in total, including a new €2,000 boiler scrappage support. Homes built before 2007 need a technical heat-loss assessment first. (seai.ie)
Charging an electric car at home
The SEAI EV Home Charger Grant gives up to €300 towards a smart home charger installed by a Safe Electric registered contractor. You do not need to own an EV, but you need off-street parking at your home and the charger must be wired to your home.
- Apartments and other multi-unit developments without private off-street parking: the owners' management company, landlord, local authority or housing body can apply for the Apartment Charging Grant for a bulk installation with an SEAI-registered Charge Point Operator. (seai.ie)
- Do not start work before the date on your Letter of Offer; you then have 6 months to install and claim. (seai.ie)
Back-billing and estimated bills
No fixed back-billing time limit was found in CRU rules. ESB Networks reads meters four times a year and estimates twice; many estimated bills in a row can lead to a large catch-up bill. Send your own reading if an 'E' reading looks wrong.
- Suppliers must bill you no later than one month after receiving scheduled meter data, and must contact you if a bill is delayed by more than one full billing period. (cru.ie)
- If an estimated reading does not match your normal use, you may dispute it and should not be disconnected over it. (cru.ie)
Prepayment meters
Pay As You Go (prepay) meters exist for electricity and gas, for customers in financial difficulty or who prefer them. Your consent is needed first, and the supplier must check the meter suits you; the CRU says they are not suitable for medically vulnerable customers.
- Emergency credit on a prepayment meter must be at least €10. If debt is recovered through the meter, the supplier must consider what you can afford and tell you in writing the total debt and how long repayment will take. (cru.ie)
- Smart PAYG: you must get a disconnection warning at least 21 hours before, with the top-up needed to stay connected; no disconnection during friendly credit periods; after topping up, reconnection within 1 hour 15 minutes. (cru.ie)
Energy costs for tenants
Irish law does not set who pays energy bills in a private tenancy; your tenancy agreement decides. Your landlord must provide adequate heating and a safe electricity and gas supply. Disputes go to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
- A landlord may deduct from your deposit only for unpaid utility bills you are responsible for under the lease, besides rent arrears, damage or insufficient notice. Take final meter readings when you move out. (rtb.ie)
- Tenants do not need landlord permission to sign up for a smart Pay As You Go tariff; for a traditional prepay meter the supplier keeps a record of the landlord's permission. (cru.ie)
Vulnerable and medical customers
Register free with your supplier: the Priority Services Register is for people critically dependent on electrically powered equipment (medical, life-protecting or assistive devices); the Special Services Register is for those vulnerable in winter because of age (66+ living alone or with minors/vulnerable people) or health.
- Your supplier passes your details to ESB Networks. Registered customers get priority 24/7 support on 1800 372 999, advance notice and SMS alerts for planned outages, and an SMS if a fault will last overnight. (esbnetworks.ie)
- Gas Networks Ireland contacts Special Services customers or their nominated contact before planned interruptions and can agree a security password with visually impaired customers. (gasnetworks.ie)
- If you use powered medical equipment, keep devices charged and agree a back-up plan with your healthcare team. (esbnetworks.ie)
Grid connection
Apply to ESB Networks for a new home connection. Its Customer Charter guarantees a quote within 7 working days, or 15 if a site visit is needed; if it misses this, domestic customers get €65.
- If you apply and pay at least 10 weeks before your electrical installation is finished, ESB Networks guarantees to connect within two weeks of receiving the Completion Certificate, or pays €65 (conditions apply). (media.esbnetworks.ie)
- Where supply already exists and a valid Completion Certificate is received, your meter must be installed within three working days, or ESB Networks pays €50. (media.esbnetworks.ie)
- ESB Networks aims to connect within 60 business days of payment but warns of delays. Typical charge: €3,602 for a single standard connection, €4,877 for an enhanced (16 kVA) one. (esbnetworks.ie)