CRU Accreditation

Switcher.ie has achieved accreditation from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) for the tenth year.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent body that regulates the electricity and natural gas sectors in Ireland and aims to act in the interests of energy customers.

What responsibilities does the CRU have?

Some of the key areas that the CRU looks after include:

  • Ensuring protection for the disadvantaged and elderly so vulnerable customers are safe.
  • Ensuring processes for energy supply are carried out in a safe and ethical manner, as the process of transporting energy can be dangerous.
  • Regulating supply processes so that people working within energy companies are safe.
  • Making sure a constant energy supply is available and delivered to all parts of the country.

The CRU also oversees the electricity generation and retail markets to encourage investment and greater levels of competition and looks to ensure that energy suppliers operate ethically when it comes to pricing.

In addition, the CRU is also responsible for approving the level of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy each year and promoting renewable forms of energy in Ireland.

How does the CRU affect you?

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities makes sure that energy suppliers comply with a certain set of standards when they’re dealing with you.

The CRU can also act in instances of non-compliance, so if companies are mis-selling energy, they can be reprimanded.

On top of this, the CRU can act on your behalf if you’ve made a complaint to your supplier and it hasn’t been sorted out to your satisfaction.

In its framework document, the CRU sets out strict guidelines for energy price comparison websites like Switcher.ie.

How are you protected?

To ensure that price comparison websites continually meet these high standards, the CRU carries out an audit each year. During this audit, the CRU tests websites like Switcher to ensure they are:

  • independent
  • impartial
  • accurate
  • up-to-date
  • easy to use

They must also include all publicly available tariffs offered by licensed energy suppliers.

Switcher has held CRU accreditation for ten years

This confirms we provide reliable, accurate and unbiased information about the energy market.

In February 2024, the CRU confirmed that Switcher.ie passed the latest audit, and has achieved CRU accreditation for the tenth year running.

Achieving this status confirms that Switcher continues to meet the strict guidelines set out by the CRU and is compliant with the accreditation framework.

It also means the CRU endorses Switcher.ie as an independent, impartial and accurate source of consumer information and ensures customers are protected when engaging with the energy market.

Eoin Clarke, Commercial Director of Switcher, says

“We’re delighted to achieve CRU accreditation for the tenth year running - we take our consumer champion role very seriously, and this accreditation is an important stamp of approval for us.

Switcher’s free, independent and impartial energy price comparison tool makes switching simple. We search the market and work out your savings, so all you need to do is compare deals and switch. Your move is expertly managed from start to finish, and there won’t be disruption to your supply.”