BUSINESS ELECTRICITY IN IRELAND
Compare Business Electricity Providers in Ireland
See which suppliers sell electricity to Irish businesses, how unit rates, standing charges and regulated charges make up your bill, and request a callback to compare quotes for your premises.
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Compare business electricity suppliers
Seven suppliers on our panel sell electricity to businesses in Ireland. Prices are quoted for your premises, so the cheapest supplier for one business is not always the cheapest for another. Request a callback to compare what each could offer you.
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Bord Gáis Energy
Small to large businesses; plans set by meter type.
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Electric Ireland
Start-up and SME plans; options for large users.
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Energia
Tailored quotes, with renewable electricity.
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Flogas
Fixed-rate and tracker business plans.
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Pinergy
Small business plans with energy monitoring.
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SSE Airtricity
Fixed, flexible, hybrid and bespoke contracts.
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Yuno Energy
Plans for small and medium-sized businesses.
Also need gas? Compare business gas suppliers, or see all business energy suppliers.
Suppliers are listed alphabetically and inclusion is not a recommendation. Business electricity is normally quoted individually, so Stuama.ie does not publish unit rates, standing charges or contract terms. Request a callback to find out what is available for your business. Stuama.ie may receive a referral fee if you proceed following an enquiry.
Request a callback
Tell us a little about your business and we’ll help you take the next step on your electricity.
How it works
- Send your details using this form.
- You’ll be contacted by phone or email about your enquiry.
- Talk through electricity quotes for your premises and decide whether any of them suits your business.
Useful to have to hand
- A recent electricity bill showing your MPRN
- Your contract end date and any exit terms
- Your annual usage in kWh, if your bill shows it
- Whether you have day and night rates
How business electricity pricing works
A business electricity bill combines charges your supplier sets with charges it passes on. Only the first group changes when you switch, so that is where to focus when comparing quotes.
- Unit rate
- The price for each kilowatt hour (kWh) used, in cent. You may have one 24-hour rate or separate day, night and peak rates, depending on your meter and plan.
- Standing charge
- A fixed daily charge for having a supply. On a small site that is closed for long periods it can be a large share of the bill, so compare it alongside the unit rate.
- Network charges
- The cost of the transmission and distribution networks, approved each year by the CRU. Suppliers may show them separately or include them in their own rates.
- PSO levy
- A charge set by the CRU to support renewable and secure electricity generation. Small business customers pay a flat monthly amount; larger customers are charged according to the capacity of their connection.
- Capacity charges
- Larger connections have an agreed Maximum Import Capacity (MIC), measured in kVA. Network charges are partly based on it, and exceeding it can bring extra charges.
Which charges change when you switch?
What to compare between suppliers, and what will be the same whoever you choose.
| Charge | Set by | Compare it? |
|---|---|---|
| Unit rates | Supplier | Yes |
| Standing charge | Supplier | Yes |
| Contract term and exit fees | Supplier | Yes |
| Network charges | CRU approved | Check how they are shown |
| PSO levy | CRU | Same with any supplier |
| VAT | Government | Same with any supplier |
If one quote includes network charges in its unit rates and another lists them separately, add them back in before comparing, or ask for both on the same basis.
Day, night and peak electricity
When you use electricity can matter as much as how much. Your meter decides which time-based prices are available to you.
- 24-hour meters
- Record one total, so you pay one unit rate at any time. Simple, and often fine for businesses that trade by day.
- Day and night meters
- Record day and night use separately, with a cheaper night rate. Useful if refrigeration, baking or charging runs overnight.
- Smart meters
- ESB Networks’ smart meters record night (11pm to 8am), peak (5pm to 7pm) and day use. On a time-of-use plan, avoiding the peak can help.
- Interval meters
- Larger connections usually record use at short intervals through the day. Suppliers price tailored quotes from this profile.
- Know your pattern
- If you can see your usage online, check how much falls at night and in the early evening. Mention any pattern you can shift.
- Check before you change
- A night rate only helps if enough use is at night. Day rates on day and night plans can be higher than a 24-hour rate.
What is an MPRN?
Your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) identifies the electricity connection at your premises. It is 11 digits long and starts with 10. It belongs to the premises, not to you or your supplier, and it does not change when you switch.
You will find it on your electricity bill, usually near the top. A new supplier uses it to confirm your connection and meter details before quoting and to arrange the switch. If you have just moved into a premises and have no bill, ESB Networks can find the MPRN from the meter’s RM and serial numbers.
What to have ready for a quote
- MPRN for each meter or site
- Recent bills, ideally covering a full year
- Meter type: 24-hour, day and night, or smart
- MIC if your bill shows one
- Contract end date and notice period
- Planned changes, such as new equipment, EV chargers or solar panels
Business electricity contracts and renewals
Most business electricity is sold on fixed-term contracts. How the price is fixed, and what happens at the end of the term, varies by supplier.
Fixed price
Unit rates and usually the standing charge are set for the term. You know what you will pay per unit, but leaving early can cost an exit fee.
Variable price
Rates can change during the contract, with notice. You give up certainty for flexibility, and it is often what applies when a fixed term ends.
Flexible and tracker contracts
Some suppliers let larger users fix prices in stages or follow wholesale prices. They can work well, but suit businesses that can watch the market.
Contract length
Terms vary by supplier, from around a year on many small business plans to longer fixes for larger users. Compare quotes for the same length.
Renewal
Note the end date and notice period. If you do nothing, many contracts move to standard or out-of-contract rates that are often higher.
Switching
Your new supplier handles the switch using your MPRN. ESB Networks keeps running the network, so the supply is not interrupted.
Electricity use in different types of business
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Shops
Lighting, tills, signage and chilled cabinets. Fridges running overnight make the night rate relevant.
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Offices
Computers, lighting, heating and cooling in working hours. Low night and weekend use puts the focus on standing charges.
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Cafés
Coffee machines, ovens, dishwashers and fridges from early morning. Heavy daytime use makes the day rate key.
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Salons
Dryers, styling tools, lighting and hot water across long days, often running into the evening peak.
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Workshops
Motors, compressors and welders, often on three-phase supply. Large connections bring capacity charges: ask about your MIC.
How higher consumption changes the quote
As usage grows, suppliers move from standard business plans to prices worked out for your site. They look at your annual consumption, how it is spread across the day and the year, and the size of your connection. Two businesses using the same total can be quoted differently if one uses most of it at night and the other in the evening peak.
Higher-usage businesses also have more choice in how they buy. Alongside a simple fixed price, some suppliers offer contracts where the price is fixed in stages or tracks the wholesale market. These can suit a manufacturer, cold store or hotel group with someone watching energy costs, but bring more price risk than a fixed contract.
If you have several sites, ask whether they can be quoted together and brought onto the same end date. One renewal is easier to manage than several.
Signs you may be a higher-usage site
- Your bill shows an MIC or capacity charges
- Usage is recorded at intervals through the day
- You run equipment around the clock, such as refrigeration or production
- You have several meters or premises
Questions to ask before you agree a contract
A quote is easier to compare when you know exactly what it includes. Ask each supplier the same questions.
- What are the unit rates and standing charge?
- Ask for every rate that applies to your meter, and whether VAT and network charges are included.
- How long is the price fixed?
- Check which parts are fixed and whether regulated charges can still change during the term.
- What happens at the end?
- Ask which rate applies if you do not renew, and how you will be told the contract is ending.
- Is there an exit fee?
- Find out what leaving early would cost, for example if you move premises or close.
- Is a deposit needed?
- New businesses may be asked for a security deposit. Ask how much it is and when it is returned.
- How long is the quote valid?
- Prices move with wholesale costs, so a quote can expire within days. Know the deadline before you compare.
Business electricity in Ireland
Electricity customers move supplier in large numbers. CRU figures show 46,087 electricity switches in March 2026, counting household and business customers, up 12.3% on March 2025.
The regulated parts of the bill changed on 1 October 2026. The CRU cut monthly PSO levy charges by 66% across all customer categories and approved electricity network revenues for 2026/27. These apply whichever supplier you use, so the supplier’s own unit rates, standing charge and terms are what to compare.
46,087
electricity supplier switches in March 2026
66%
cut in monthly PSO levy charges from 1 October 2026
11 digits
in every MPRN, starting with 10
Sources: CRU, switching figures for March 2026; CRU, 2026/27 network charges and PSO levy; ESB Networks, finding your MPRN.
Business electricity: frequently asked questions
What is a good business electricity rate?
It depends on your usage, meter and contract length, and on when you get the quote. A low unit rate with a high standing charge can cost more on a small site than the reverse. Compare total annual cost using your own usage, and request a callback to talk through quotes.
What is the difference between commercial and household electricity?
The electricity is the same, but business contracts are usually quoted for your premises, more often fixed for a set term and can carry exit fees. Business customers also pay different PSO levy and network charges from households.
Can I switch business electricity supplier during a contract?
You can, but if you are in a fixed-term contract your current supplier may charge an exit fee. The CRU notes there is no charge for switching at the end of a contract, so time your move for your end date where you can.
Where do I find my MPRN?
On your electricity bill, usually near the top. It is 11 digits and starts with 10. If you have no bill, ESB Networks can find it from your meter’s RM and serial numbers. See what an MPRN is.
Do I need a smart meter for business electricity?
No. You can get business electricity on 24-hour, day and night or smart meters. A smart meter gives you access to time-of-use plans and lets you see when you use electricity, which can help you choose the right plan.
Is green electricity more expensive for businesses?
Not necessarily. Some suppliers supply renewable electricity on all their business plans, while others offer it as an option. Ask how the electricity is sourced and whether it changes the price.
Ready to compare business electricity?
Request a callback to discuss electricity quotes for your business.
Need gas as well? Compare business gas suppliers, or go back to business energy.