Switching electric/gas providers (see first post for links)

Correct me but don't you have an activated smart meter and you're looking to sign up for the BWG Smart Dual Fuel Day/Night 18 Month Fixed Energy? To the best of my knowledge, that wouldn't require a meter change.

A meter change is only required on non-activated smart meters going from standard 24 hour → D/N. This is owing to the energy company not being provided access to the smart meter data in the same way. They are just given a single figure once a month from the ESB (I believe). With an activated smart meter, they've access to your 30 minutely data and can bill you accordingly.

You're correct I have an activated smart meter, I'm looking at the electricity only deal, no piped gas here in the sticks😊. Thanks for that.

You could probably get away without switching until October as you will get a lot of usage from your panels

be careful here…

I just went over my "contract date"… and switched from energia to EI. Then Enrergia rang, asked why i was leaving, and made an improved offer, which i took. Then EI rang, made a better offer, and i reversed again… basically NOT cancelling the move and accepted the new provider EI's offer.

Then the Energia bill comes and i got a 50 euro penalty for "breaking contract". It took a 15 minute phone call escalated to management to get refunded that charge… totally unjutified as i was still in 14 days cooling off with BOTH providers.

I would assume, lets say you didnt move form Energia within 14 days of an end of contract date - they will just start a NEW contract and charge you if u try to wait to chnage later in the year. Madness, but thats the logic of these comanies… and probaly they will get away with it.

Your last paragraph is rubbish. When your contract expires you go on the non discounted unit rates, you are not automatically entered into a new contract, that applies to BB and other contacted services across the board. Please don't be making assumptions trying to pass them off as fact. When Energia rang with the retention offer did you accept it? In doing so you entered a new contract.

Hey Everyone,

Have just moved into a new house and looking go get signed up with a gas and electricity supplier.

No solar or EV to consider at the moment.

Just wondering what's the best way to go about getting the best deal? Is the likes of Bonkers or Switcher showing the best deals on the market, or is it better to get on the phone to the different companies, do they offer better discounts than their websites show?

Any harm in asking what you were offered? 😁

We have 11 providers, they all publish their prices online and "hidden" ones regularly get published here

Your bill will be made up of a standing charge, a unit rate and taxes. Ideally you want the cheapest standing charge and unit rate, taxes can't be changed. If your usage is high then a cheaper unit rate can be more important than a cheaper unit rate. Conversely if your usage is low you'd be looking for the cheapest standing charge and can take a higher unit rate

Downloading your HDF data from ESB Networks and getting one of the GenAI engines to analyze your usage is really really amazing and useful.

Here is what I've got from Microsoft co-pilot. I'm nearly a year into a new house and considering getting a rate with a night boost (I dont have an EV yet, but I think I can still sign up to Electic Ireland night boost rate).
The big spike you see at 6AM 7AM is my heat pump kicking in to heat the water. Heat pump comes on earlier in winter to heat underfloot heating.

I agreed with you… if I didn’t answer the three calls from energia when my first contract ended…. Or the 4 visits from sales people to the door …. I would have been able to stay on inflated rates post contract and free to change later.

Leccy companies also should respect the 14 day period to switch or change your mind…. In this case I’ve proved energia don’t allow swap swap swap in there system.

Leccy companies also should respect the 14 day period to switch or change your mind…. In this case I’ve proved energia don’t allow swap swap swap in there system.

A single anecdote doesn't prove their system doesn't allow it. Its very much an edge case but there are examples of other people on this thread who have done similar things and not been charged.

Hopefully there's no issue getting your €50. If there is, I'd complain to the CRU, you might get compensation.

Your reply got you only one thanks sadly. My motivation is to stop people spreading untruths. In your last paragraph you made the assumption that when your contract with Energia ends you are automatically entered into a new contract, as bren also pointed out, this is not what happens. You were the one who made the new contract with Energia and then decided to move again, if it was within the 14 day period (providing you didn't waive that) you are entitled to your €50 back. Only listening back to the recording will reveal that.

How can saying something that was wrong be helpful?