Over a third of Irish households rent their home, yet energy advice in Ireland is often written with homeowners in mind — long-term contracts, smart meter upgrades, solar panels. If you rent, your situation is different: you may move every year or two, your landlord controls the building, and you might inherit an electricity account that was never set up with your usage in mind.
Here is a practical guide to electricity tariffs for renters in Ireland, including which suppliers suit shorter tenancies and how to make sure you are not overpaying.
Who Is Responsible for the Electricity Bill in a Rented Property?
In most Irish rentals, the tenant is responsible for electricity (and gas, if applicable) bills unless the lease explicitly states that utilities are included in the rent. When you move into a property, you should contact the current electricity supplier — whoever was billing the previous tenant — and either take over the account or switch to your preferred supplier.
You will need the MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) for the property. This 11-digit number is printed on any previous electricity bill left by the landlord or previous tenant, or displayed on the meter itself. Without the MPRN, suppliers cannot process your account.
Can Renters Switch Electricity Supplier?
Yes — renters have exactly the same right to switch supplier as homeowners. The electricity supply agreement is between you (the account holder) and the supplier. Your landlord cannot prevent you from choosing your own electricity supplier, and switching does not require any work to the property or meter.
The only constraint is that you must be the named account holder. If the bill is in your landlord's name, you will need them to transfer the account to you before you can switch — or set up a new account directly with your chosen supplier.
What to Look for in a Tariff if You Rent
Low or no exit fees
Most Irish residential electricity tariffs carry no exit fees, which is ideal for renters. Before signing up with any supplier, confirm there is no penalty for leaving mid-contract. Avoid any plan marketed as "fixed rate for 24 months" if you are not confident you will stay that long.
Competitive new customer discounts
All major Irish electricity suppliers — Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, SSE Airtricity, Energia, Pinergy, and Community Power — offer new customer discounts, typically 20–30% off the standard unit rate for the first 12 months. As a renter who may switch or move regularly, you can be a perpetual new customer — which means you can consistently access the best rates.
Low standing charges
The standing charge is a fixed daily fee regardless of how much electricity you use. Renters in apartments or smaller properties, or those who travel frequently, often have lower-than-average electricity consumption. For low-usage households, a tariff with a low standing charge matters more than one with a slightly better unit rate. GoSwitch shows total annual cost based on your actual kWh figure, so you can see which tariff wins for your specific usage level.
What Happens When You Move Out?
When your tenancy ends, contact your electricity supplier to close the account. You will need to give a final meter read on your last day. The supplier will issue a final bill and return any credit balance within a few weeks.
Your new address will have its own MPRN — repeat the process of contacting the existing supplier to take over the account, then immediately compare electricity tariffs to see whether a better deal is available. Moving home is one of the best opportunities to reset to a competitive tariff.
Smart Meters and Renters
ESB Networks is progressively rolling out smart meters across Ireland. If your rental property already has a smart meter installed, you can access time-of-use tariffs — plans that charge less per kWh during off-peak hours (typically night and weekend). Pinergy specialises in smart-meter electricity plans, and Electric Ireland and others also offer night-rate options.
If the property has a traditional meter, you are limited to flat-rate tariffs. You cannot install a smart meter yourself as a tenant — that is a network upgrade arranged through the landlord and ESB Networks.
The Best Approach for Renters: Switch Every 12 Months
The single most effective strategy for renters is to treat each new customer discount as a 12-month cycle. Sign up with the cheapest supplier when you move in (or when your current discount expires), set a reminder for month 11, and compare again before the promotional period ends. If you move to a new rental mid-cycle, close your account cleanly and start a fresh comparison at your new address.
Enter your annual kWh from a recent bill (or use 3,500 kWh as a reasonable estimate for a one- or two-bedroom apartment), select Electricity, and GoSwitch will rank every available Irish tariff by true annual cost — standing charge included.