Consumer benefits by switching suppliers; ‘Almost 86% of energy customers missing out on savings’

Consumers are increasingly switching gas and electricity supplier and are making “large savings” as a result.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) annual electricity and gas retail market report for 2016 shows that between 2015 and 2016, competition in the sector and lower wholesale prices led to lower retail prices for Irish consumers.

In 2016, just under 318,000 people switched electricity supplier — up from just over 303,000 the previous year. Switching remained above the 20,000 level per month mark throughout the year, while the average switching rate in 2015 was 13.53%. This rate compares well internationally and is indicative of an active market.