Cheapest Electricity Provider in Ireland (October 2026)
Prices updated 11 October 2026
The short answer
At typical usage, the cheapest electricity plan in Ireland is Smart Green 15% Discount from SSE Airtricity at an estimated €1,296.92 for the first year. Once introductory discounts lapse, the cheapest supplier to stay with is Waterpower at €1,491.33 a year.
Estimated from advertised tariffs as of 11 October 2026 at 4,200 kWh a year, standing charge and PSO levy included. Not a quote.
There is no single cheapest electricity provider in Ireland, and any page that gives you one name without asking a question first is guessing. The answer moves with three things: how much electricity you use, what meter you have, and whether you are counting the discounted first year or the price you pay from month 13 onward. This page ranks every supplier we track on both bases so you can see the difference rather than take our word for it.
We track 26 plans from 7 suppliers. The tables below show each supplier's best plan rather than every plan, so no supplier can occupy the top four rows on the strength of one good tariff. For the full plan-by-plan ranking, and to enter your own usage instead of the national average, use the electricity comparison itself.
Every figure is an estimate at 4,200 kWh a year, the CRU's typical household consumption, and includes the standing charge and the PSO levy. Introductory discounts are applied to the first-year column only.
Cheapest electricity suppliers on first-year cost
Each supplier's best plan, ranked by estimated cost over the first 12 months with every advertised discount and cashback applied.
| Supplier | Best plan | Meter | First year | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SSE Airtricity | Smart Green 15% Discount | Smart tariff | €1,296.92 | €1,676.25 |
| 2. Energia | Smart Data | Smart tariff | €1,427.18 | €1,849.96 |
| 3. Waterpower | Standard Electricity (eBill) | Standard 24-hour | €1,491.33 | €1,491.33 |
| 4. Electric Ireland | Home Electric SST Saver 16% | Smart tariff | €1,518.67 | €1,756.53 |
| 5. Community Power | Standard Variable (Smart) | Smart tariff | €1,626.26 | €1,626.26 |
| 6. Bord Gáis Energy | Electricity Discount | Standard 24-hour | €1,653.77 | €2,187.44 |
| 7. Yuno Energy | Variable Discount Plan (Smart) | Smart tariff | €1,673.03 | €1,673.03 |
Cheapest electricity suppliers on ongoing cost
The same suppliers ranked on what they charge once the introductory period ends — the number that matters if you do not intend to switch again next year.
| Supplier | Best plan | Ongoing | First year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Waterpower | Standard Electricity (eBill) | €1,491.33 | €1,491.33 |
| 2. Community Power | Standard Variable (Smart) | €1,626.26 | €1,626.26 |
| 3. Yuno Energy | Variable Discount Plan (Smart) | €1,673.03 | €1,673.03 |
| 4. SSE Airtricity | Smart Green 15% Discount | €1,676.25 | €1,296.92 |
| 5. Electric Ireland | Home Electric SST Saver 16% | €1,756.53 | €1,518.67 |
| 6. Energia | Smart Data | €1,849.96 | €1,427.18 |
| 7. Bord Gáis Energy | Electricity Discount | €2,187.44 | €1,653.77 |
Cheapest electricity provider questions
Who is the cheapest electricity provider in Ireland right now?
On the tariffs we last checked on 11 October 2026, the cheapest first-year plan at 4,200 kWh a year is Smart Green 15% Discount from SSE Airtricity, at about €1,296.92. Judged on ongoing cost instead — what you pay once the introductory discount lapses — Waterpower comes out ahead at €1,491.33 a year. Neither is "the" answer for every household.
Why does the cheapest supplier change depending on how you rank?
Because almost every Irish supplier discounts heavily for the first 12 months and then moves you to a standard rate. A deep first-year discount can hide an unremarkable underlying tariff, and a supplier with no discount at all can be the cheapest place to sit for three years. The gap between the best and worst supplier on this page is about €376.11 a year in the first year alone, so it is worth being clear which question you are asking before you switch.
What is included in these annual estimates?
The unit rate applied to your kWh, the supplier's standing charge, and the PSO levy, which is currently €19.10 a year including VAT and is identical on every plan. First-year figures also apply any advertised discount and subtract welcome cashback. VAT on domestic electricity is the reduced 9% rate. What is not included: pay-as-you-go meters, business tariffs, and any bundle extras a supplier throws in.
Does the cheapest plan depend on my meter?
Yes, substantially. A smart meter opens up time-of-use tariffs that can be much cheaper if you shift usage overnight and dearer if you cannot; a NightSaver meter restricts you to a short list. Our estimates assume 63% day, 28% night and 9% peak usage. Compare within your own meter type on smart meter tariffs, NightSaver rates or 24-hour rates.
How often do these prices change?
Supplier tariffs change several times a year, and the discounts attached to them change more often than that. We re-read every supplier's published rates automatically and stamp the page with the date it was last done — 11 October 2026 for this data. Treat anything on this page as an estimate to shortlist with, and confirm the final price on the supplier's own site before you sign anything.