Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
213. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the latest switching rates for domestic electricity and gas customers; the actions his Department is taking to increase switching among households on high tariffs; and the steps being taken to improve transparency in billing and tariff information. [64762/25]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market, including what information is mandated for inclusion on customer bills, is a matter for the independent regulator the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. It is solely accountable to the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions and not to me as Minister. As part of its consumer protection role the CRU regularly updates and publishes the Electricity and Gas Supplier Handbook which details the obligations on suppliers, including on energy billing information and historical consumption.
Switching energy providers in Ireland's competitive market can lead to households potentially saving hundreds of euros annually by switching from standard tariffs to the cheapest deals. Greater levels of switching between electricity providers increases competitiveness in the market which in turn pushes prices down as suppliers compete for customers. Regular switching, ideally every 12 months, helps customers access discounted rates and avoid the higher standard rates offered after introductory periods.
I am advised that the CRU’s 2023 Energy Monitoring Report found that consumer switching rates were 12% for electricity customers and 14% among gas customers. This compares with average switching rates of 7.15% for electricity consumers in the EU25. That report highlighted the savings potential offered by consistent switching, finding that customers who had switched supplier each of the preceding four years could have saved €946 on electricity, €775 on gas or €2,018 on their dual fuel costs, in total over the period. The CRU monitors and publishes switching reports monthly and runs an information campaign each year to promote switching. Growing public awareness of the cost savings associated with switching, and of the potential to save money through switching to a time-of-use tariff and switching consumption to off-peak periods, has the potential to reduce a households’ energy bills
The CRU Supplier Handbook sets out the Code of Practice on billing and the requirements placed on suppliers. In particular, suppliers must ensure that the consumption information provided to the customer for the current billing period should be made available for comparison on an aggregate basis for the same billing period in the previous year, where there is sufficient historical billing information to provide such a comparison.
Additionally, the Deputy may wish to note that the CRU provide a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members which enables them to raise day to day questions on regulatory matters directly to the CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
