What is the average gas and electricity bill in Ireland?
If you want cheaper gas and electricity bills, it’s helpful to understand how bills are calculated and how your energy use compares. Here’s all you need to know about energy bills in Ireland.
How much do you spend on energy?
The amount you spend on gas and electricity can take a large slice of your income, so it makes sense to check if you’re one of the many customers overpaying for energy.
Here’s where to learn about:
Switch and save up to €453 on your energy bills
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper deal and start saving
How much energy does the average household use?
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) states that the average Irish household uses 4,200 kW/h of electricity and 11,000 kW/h of gas per year.
However, other factors may mean your usage is quite different, such as:
- The size of your home
- How energy efficient it is
- How many people live with you
- When the house is occupied
- The type & frequency of appliance use
Check out the infographic below to discover what type of energy user you are.
Electricity
What’s the average electricity bill?
The average annual electricity bill on a standard tariff is €2,119 if you live in a typical three-bedroomed house.
Gas
What’s the average gas bill?
The average annual gas bill on a standard tariff is €1,862 if you live in a typical three-bedroom house.
How your energy bill is calculated
Your energy bills may look complicated, but here are the basics:
- Energy usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWhs)
- Each kWh is called a unit. The number of units you use in the billing period is shown as ‘consumption’ or ‘usage’
- The unit rate is the cost you pay per kWh
- The amount you pay is calculated by multiplying your usage by the unit rate
Other factors like the standing charge, levies and VAT are added to your bill to make up the total amount you must pay.
What you need to know
Here’s some of the jargon you may find on your bills with a simple explanation of what the terms mean.
- Tariff: This is the name of your electricity, gas or dual fuel plan
- MPRN & GPRN: The Meter Point Reference Number is the unique number assigned to your electricity or gas connection
- Unit usage: This shows how many kWh you have used
- Unit rate: This shows the price per kWh unit
- Meter reading: This shows your current reading and previous reading. A = actual, E= estimated and C= customer read
- Amount due: The total number of units used in your billing period multiplied by the price per unit
- Standing charge: A fixed charge for providing and maintaining your energy supply and servicing your account
- VAT: This is charged at 13.5% of your total bill and added to the final amount
- PSO Levy: All suppliers must collect this levy from customers. It supports the generation of electricity from renewable sources.
- Carbon emissions: This shows the kilograms of CO2 produced as a result of your energy usage
- Carbon tax: The charge is linked to your consumption, so you’ll see the carbon tax rate on your bill as 0.00741 cent/kWh.
- Conversion factor: This is the measurement that energy suppliers use to convert your gas usage into kWh.
Are your gas or electricity bills too high?
An average electricity user on the best deal in the market would pay €1,866, while a gas customer on the best deal would pay €1,661.
To get a more accurate picture of your household’s consumption, check the kWh usage from previous bills and multiple by the unit rate. This will give you a better idea of your usage and how much you can expect to pay.
The best way to cut your energy bills is to reduce your usage with our top energy-saving tips and switch to a discounted deal using our free gas and electricity comparison service.
How much could you save by switching?
If you haven’t switched recently, then consider changing your supplier or energy tariff.
Here’s an example of the money you could save:
This amounts to a potential saving of up to €453 if you switch from a standard tariff to the cheapest deal on the market.
If you’d like to learn more about changing your supplier, visit our helpful guide How to switch your gas and electricity.
Switch and save up to €453 on your energy bills
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper deal and start saving