Those looking for the cheapest electricity suppliers in the Republic of Ireland seem to be more on the lookout for great deals than their European counterparts.
According to an article in the Irish Examiner, more Irish consumers switch gas and electricity suppliers each year compared to those people living in the rest of Europe.Thanks to website comparison sites and greater competition between suppliers, the article suggests it is now easier for consumers to compare electricity prices at the click of a button. As a result, it may be even easier to find the cheapest electricity suppliers on the market.
The article has based its findings on an annual survey that was carried out by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The survey found that in the past year, almost thirty per cent of Irish householders have decided to switch to another energy supplier in order to take advantage of cheaper deals and discounts.
The report also found that for every week in the first three months of 2011, between 8000 and 9000 consumers chose to switch to another supplier.
A spokesperson for the CER told the Irish Examiner, the main reason more consumers were choosing to switch providers was because the competitor’s rate represented “value for money” during a time of economic recession.
For those householders who chose to switch suppliers, the majority were happy with the process and said it had been reasonably straightforward. Some thirty per cent of those interviewed even went as far as to say they would even consider switching again if they were able to find a better deal on their electricity prices.
As a result of these findings, the CER is now planning to introduce a number of schemes to make switching providers even easier for consumers living in Ireland. This may include a cost comparison facility and a customer education campaign.