Energy Sign Up Deals: Cheapest Electricity Suppliers in Ireland

There’s a moment, about halfway through comparing electricity rates online, when the numbers start to blur. You’re staring at unit prices, standing charges, and discount percentages, wondering if that €135 welcome bonus actually makes a supplier cheaper — or if it’s just a clever distraction. This article cuts through the noise, showing exactly how sign-up deals and introductory offers shift the real cheapest-supplier calculation for Irish households, with current rates and bonuses from Electric Ireland, Yuno Energy, Bord Gáis, and more.

Potential savings when switching: up to €641 ·
Welcome bonus (Electric Ireland): €135 ·
Annual dual fuel cost (Electric Ireland): €2,679 ·
SEAI grant value: up to €1,800 ·
Electricity discount (Electric Ireland): 20%

The numbers in this snapshot set the stage for a deeper question: which supplier actually wins when bonuses are added to the mix?

Who is the cheapest energy supplier in Ireland?

The short answer: it depends on your meter type, annual usage, and how you weigh sign-up bonuses. But a few suppliers consistently lead the rankings when you account for both unit rates and welcome offers.

Current cheapest unit rates

• Electric Ireland’s standard rates, after a 20% discount for online sign-up, produce some of the lowest unit costs among major suppliers (Electric Ireland new customer offer)
• Yuno Energy claims savings of up to €500 annually for new customers on its dual fuel plan (Yuno Energy homepage)
• Energia promotes savings up to €505 for switchers on its best plans
• Bord Gáis Energy advertises a €125 Welcome Bonus alongside unit-rate discounts (Bord Gáis Energy plan page)

Five suppliers, one pattern: the cheapest headline unit rate rarely tells the full story because sign-up bonuses and first-year discounts can undercut a lower unit price by €50–€150 over 12 months. The Irish-Energy comparison tool uses “First Year Cost” (estimated annual bill minus welcome credit) precisely for this reason — it exposes which supplier actually costs less after the bonus.

Comparing standard vs. discount tariffs

Most suppliers offer two tiers: a standard variable tariff (SVT) with no discount and a discounted tariff for customers who sign up online or commit to a 12-month contract. The gap between the two can be substantial.

Two tiers, one reality: the discount tariff often beats the standard rate by 15-28%, but the discount expires after 12 months — then you revert to the standard rate unless you switch again. Electric Ireland’s new customer offer states a 28% saving on its recommended plan, which translates to €421 off electricity alone for a typical household.

The catch: That 28% discount is for the first year only. After 12 months, customers roll onto the standard tariff unless they proactively switch or renegotiate.

Is Yuno Energy the cheapest?

Yuno Energy has been aggressive with its marketing, claiming savings of up to €500 for new customers. But “cheapest” depends on whether you’re comparing unit rates alone or factoring in the welcome bonus.

Yuno Energy rates vs. national average

• Yuno’s standard unit rate is competitive, but not the lowest among all suppliers — it sits around the middle of the pack for basic electricity (Yuno Energy)
• The company’s dual fuel plan advertises savings of €763 plus a €25 Welcome Bonus (Yuno Energy homepage)
• For gas-only customers, Yuno claims combined savings of €251 plus a €50 Welcome Bonus on its 12-month plan (Yuno Energy)

Two metrics, one divergence: Yuno Energy’s unit rates are not the cheapest standalone, but its advertised total savings (€500 electricity, €763 dual fuel) make it a strong contender in first-year cost — exactly the kind of calculation that benefits from a first-year cost comparison tool.

Yuno Energy sign-up bonus conditions

The Welcome Bonus is not a cash payment — it appears as a credit on your first bill. And it comes with strings: you must commit to a 12-month contract, and the bonus is for new customers only (Yuno Energy terms).

The implication: If you plan to stay with a supplier longer than 12 months, Yuno’s first-year advantage fades — your second year costs revert to the standard unit rate, which may be higher than a competitor’s ongoing discount.

Is Airtricity cheaper than Bord Gais?

SSE Airtricity and Bord Gáis Energy are both established suppliers with large market share in Ireland, but their pricing strategies differ notably.

Airtricity price plans

• Airtricity often ranks as mid-tier on unit rate comparisons, neither the cheapest nor the most expensive (EnergyEfficiency.ie comparison)
• Rates vary by region — customers in Dublin may see different unit costs than those in Cork or Galway
• SSE Airtricity’s contract terms typically range from 12 to 24 months

Bord Gáis electricity plans

• Bord Gáis Energy offers a €125 Welcome Bonus on its electricity discount plan (Bord Gáis Energy plan page)
• The supplier discounts dual-fuel customers more heavily — bundling gas and electricity can unlock additional savings
• Bord Gáis also promotes 0% VAT on some plans, though this offer applies only to specific tariffs

Two suppliers, one pattern: Airtricity tends to win on customer service ratings (based on CRU surveys), while Bord Gáis wins on first-year cost thanks to its welcome bonus and dual-fuel discount. The gap between them for a typical dual-fuel household is roughly €30–€60 over 12 months, depending on usage.

Electric Ireland vs SSE Airtricity: which supplier is better?

These two suppliers dominate the Irish market, and the comparison is more nuanced than a straight unit-rate battle.

Electric Ireland welcome bonus and discounts

• Electric Ireland offers a €135 Welcome Bonus for new customers switching to its EnergySaver Dual NightSaver 20% plan (Electric Ireland price plans)
• An additional €120 bonus appears on some 24-hour flat rate and day/night plans (CompareElectricity.ie listing)
• The Switching Bonus is an energy credit — no cash alternative (Electric Ireland Switching Bonus Terms & Conditions)
• Customers must sign a 12-month minimum contract to qualify (Electric Ireland Switching Bonus Terms)

SSE Airtricity customer service and rates

• SSE Airtricity rates vary significantly by region — urban customers typically pay less per kWh than rural ones (EnergyEfficiency.ie comparison)
• The supplier consistently ranks higher in customer satisfaction surveys compared to Electric Ireland (CRU customer satisfaction data)
• SSE Airtricity offers a “Smart Plan” with a discount for direct debit and online billing

Two suppliers, one trade-off: Electric Ireland wins on upfront bonus and headline discount (20% off standard rates), while SSE Airtricity wins on regional flexibility and service perception. Switcher.ie’s comparison shows potential savings of up to €641 when switching tariffs, but that figure depends on moving from the most expensive supplier to the cheapest — not from one middle-tier supplier to another.

What are the best energy sign up deals in Ireland?

The sign-up deal landscape in Ireland has become intensely competitive in 2026, with welcome bonuses and first-year discounts becoming the primary battleground for suppliers.

Sign-up bonuses and welcome offers

Five bonuses, one pattern: all welcome offers are energy credits applied to the first bill — never cash — and all require a 12-month contract for new customers only. EnergyEfficiency.ie explains that suppliers use cash welcome bonuses “specifically to attract switchers,” and the amounts have risen steadily since 2023 as competition intensified.

Deals for new vs. existing customers

The asymmetry is stark: new customers get welcome bonuses and first-year discounts; existing customers get nothing unless they call and threaten to leave. Electric Ireland’s Switching Bonus, for example, is explicitly “only available to new customers joining for a minimum 12-month contract” (Electric Ireland terms).

What this means: Loyalty costs Irish households real money. A customer who stays with the same supplier for three years without switching will pay €150–€300 more on average than someone who switches suppliers every 12 months to collect the next welcome bonus.

Contract length and exit fees

• Most welcome-bonus plans require a 12-month minimum contract
• Some suppliers (e.g., Bord Gáis, Yuno) impose exit fees if you leave before the contract ends — typically €50–€100 per fuel
• Other suppliers (e.g., Electric Ireland on certain plans) advertise no exit fees, making them more flexible for customers who may need to move or change usage patterns

The trade-off: A no-exit-fee plan gives you freedom but often comes with a slightly higher unit rate or a smaller welcome bonus. A locked-in contract gives you the biggest bonus but penalizes you if your circumstances change.

Pros and cons of switching with sign-up deals

How to switch energy suppliers in Ireland

Switching is straightforward, but timing matters — especially when a welcome bonus is at stake.

1. Step 1: Compare current rates and bonuses — Use a comparison tool that accounts for First Year Cost — not just unit rate. Irish-Energy and EnergyEfficiency.ie both let you enter your annual kWh usage to get personalised results.
2. Step 2: Check contract terms and exit fees — Before switching, confirm whether your current plan has exit fees. If you’re already out of contract, you’re free to leave. If you’re still within a 12-month term, calculate whether the welcome bonus from a new supplier outweighs the exit fee.
3. Step 3: Sign up online with the new supplier — Most suppliers require online sign-up to unlock the welcome bonus. Electric Ireland, for example, notes that its 20% discount is tied to online enrollment (Electric Ireland new customer offer).
4. Step 4: Provide meter reading on switch day — On the day your new supplier takes over, submit a meter reading to both old and new suppliers to ensure accurate final billing. This prevents disputes over estimated readings.
5. Step 5: Confirm welcome credit appears on first bill — Monitor your first bill from the new supplier. The welcome credit should appear as a line item. If it doesn’t, contact customer support — missing credits are a common complaint on forums.

“Switch to our best Electricity & Gas offers for new customers ; EnergySaver Dual NightSaver 20% · €135 Welcome Bonus”

— Electric Ireland website (Electric Ireland)

“Save up to €500 on your energy costs with our unbeatable rates”

— Yuno Energy website (Yuno Energy)

“Compare gas & electricity prices and save up to €641 when you switch tariffs”

— Switcher.ie (Switcher.ie)

Summary

Energy sign-up deals in Ireland have transformed the supplier comparison game. The cheapest supplier by unit rate rarely wins on first-year cost, because welcome bonuses of €100–€135 (and up to €763 in claimed savings from Yuno) shift the calculation dramatically. For Irish households, the smartest play is clear: switch suppliers every 12 months to collect the next bonus, or negotiate with your current supplier for retention credit equal to the bonus you’d get elsewhere. For households unwilling to switch, the penalty is clear: €150–€300 more per year than active switchers.

Frequently asked questions