Energia guarantee households cheapest deals
The company has said it will guarantee savings of up to 15% off standard rates for both gas and electricity and will be the only provider to discount both fuels at this level, with additional discounts also provided for dual fuel customers.
Energia has promised customers savings of up to €180 for electricity and €125 for gas off the standard rates of Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, and Airtricity — the equivalent of up to a day of free energy every week for an average home.
The company has a 28% share of the business electricity and gas market and operates two power stations in Dublin as well as a number of windfarms around the country. It currently provides power and gas to more than 65,000 business customers nationwide.
Energia has made significantinvestment in conventional and renewable power in the Irish market in recent years and will create 100 jobs with the move to the residential electricity and gas market. The company now employs more than 450 people across the country.
Retail director of Energia, Gary Ryan, said the move into the residential market would bring increased competition to the sector.
“We have decades of experience in residential energy supply. We currently power public lighting, mobile networks, shops, schools, and colleges, so we’re making a great contribution to life and living throughout Ireland and now we want to make an even bigger difference for home energy users all over the country,” he said.
Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte said it was a welcome development for all consumers.
“Energia is already a key competitive player in the business energy market and their decision to offer electricity and gas to Irish households is a welcome development for consumers. Competition among suppliers in both the residential and business energy markets has helped to increase product innovation and choice and, most importantly, reduce prices,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Energy Regulation’s latest review of the retail gas market shows that Bord Gáis Energy is still the dominant supplier with 57.23% of the market, followed by Electric Ireland at 20.23%, Airtricity at 17.33%, and Flogas at 5.12%.
A total of 112,216 people switched gas supplier last year bringing the switching rate to 17.73%.
