ESB Connection and what company then for supply.

Jofspring

Had my electricity connected up recently by electric Ireland and paid them their fee. I received their letter during the week thanking me for signing up and asking me to set up my direct debit details.

Is there anything stopping me from going with a different company though? Has anyone done this?

Most seem to have offers if you sign up with them and as far as I know I signed nothing with electric Ireland to say I was becoming their customer. I just paid them for the installations costs of the poles and wires.

Luckysasha

You would have paid ESB Networks for the connection. You still have to nominate a supplier

Jofspring

Luckysasha wrote: »

You would have paid ESB Networks for the connection. You still have to nominate a supplier

WIll give them a call later so. Electric Ireland seem to be assuming I am going with them and are asking for either €300 deposit or direct debit details.

macgabhs

Same happened to me Electric Ireland assumed they would be supplier but I had signed up with airtricity. There was no problem once I signed up with airtricity they contacted electric ireland and sorted the changeover.

jmBuildExt

But if you used electric Ireland to get ESB networks to connect (or reconnect) you - surely by contacting them in the first place it means you have chosen them as your supplier? I dont see how they could do anything other than assume you are going to use them as your provider.

Jofspring

jmBuildExt wrote: »

But if you used electric Ireland to get ESB networks to connect (or reconnect) you - surely by contacting them in the first place it means you have chosen them as your supplier? I dont see how they could do anything other than assume you are going to use them as your provider.

Aren’t ESB networks and electric Ireland one and the same? No other company can connect your electricity (new build) to the best of my knowledge. You pay them for that service and then after that it should probably be a free market for you to choose from.

Was talking to a lad there, new build and he choose what company to go with. He picked Electric Ireland as they offered him €175 sign up bonus. As it stands I don’t seem to have received that chance. Haven’t got the opportunity to chat with them on the phone yet.

jmBuildExt

nah they're defo not the same.
Both of them eminated from the old ESB monopoly - but the whole idea was to open the market to competition. Think it came from some EU competition law.
ESB networks are the state body which look after the infrastructure.
Electric Ireland (as well as airticity, boird gais energy etc) are suppliers.

I just used electric ireland for reconnection recently, same as you i paid through them to ESB networks, but Im pretty sure you could use any of the suppliers for same service.

I cant imagine a situation where electric ireland would be handed the advantage of getting the first contact with customers, which would effectively be the state giving them competitive advantage over their competition.

Jofspring

jmBuildExt wrote: »

nah they're defo not the same.
Both of them eminated from the old ESB monopoly - but the whole idea was to open the market to competition. Think it came from some EU competition law.
ESB networks are the state body which look after the infrastructure.
Electric Ireland (as well as airticity, boird gais energy etc) are suppliers.

I just used electric ireland for reconnection recently, same as you i paid through them to ESB networks, but Im pretty sure you could use any of the suppliers for same service.

I cant imagine a situation where electric ireland would be handed the advantage of getting the first contact with customers, which would effectively be the state giving them competitive advantage over their competition.

Interesting. Just double checked there and all my correspondence has gone through ESB Networks but the letter in the post thanking me for signing up is from Electric Ireland. I never actually made contact with Electric Ireland, all contact has been with ESB. I had thought it was one and the same. Can’t understand how I have received a welcome letter from Electric ireland.

jmBuildExt

FYI
https://www.cru.ie/home/customer-care/energy/connecting-disconnecting/#getting-an-electricity-connection

You do actually deal with ESB networks re your connection, but if you happened to ring electric Ireland first they would have put you in contact and it all would have been very seemless- all your dealings re the connection following that would have been with ESB networks.

Jofspring

Just off the phone with Electric Ireland. They have said that if you don’t nominate a provider by the time the meter is installed they automatically take over the account from ESB networks. She said it is the agreement with the regulatory authority. Obviously when the electrician put in for the electricity to be powered on Electric Ireland automatically assumed control of the account.

I can switch provider now if I want. Still a bit annoying considering my mate was able to take advantage of the €175 cashback but I have missed out.

jmBuildExt

Oh right - interesting that.
I signed up with them just before xmas and got something like 300 credit. But I get my gas through them as well.
I think there is another big credit for boiler upgrades too. My plumber (who upgraded my boiler) was telling me about it but ive yet to avail of it.