You can switch to Airtricity if you're renting, as long as your property has a separate electricity and/or gas meter and the energy bills are currently in your name. If you're unsure, contact your landlord first.

You'll still receive your full allowance, the only difference is instead of appearing on your bill, it will be paid directly into your bank, building society or post office account.

What do I have to do?

You don’t have to do anything. Once we switch your account over to Airtricity, we’ll let the Department of Social Protection know that we’re your new supplier. They will then contact you to get details of your nominated account so they can set up your payment.

Updates to the Annual Value of the Electricity and Gas Allowance - September 2011

Electricity Allowance

The annual value of the Electricity Allowance will be adjusted from 2,400 units to 1,800 units effective from September 2011. You will have your rate adjusted to €35.80 per month from Tuesday 6th September 2011.

Gas Allowance

The annual value of the Gas Allowance will be adjusted from €489 to €393 effective from September 2011. You will have your rate adjusted to €32.70 per month from September 2011.

If your house or apartment is in a scheme

1. Ask your builder or estate agent for your property's MPRN (for electricity) and/or GPRN (for gas)
2. Call our Sales team on 1850 81 81 10 and let us know that yours is a new connection site
3. You will be contacted by ESB Networks or Bord Gais Networks to arrange for your meter to be installed.

If your house is self-built

1. You’ll need to contact ESB Networks or Bord Gáis Networks yourself and complete an application form for new connections.
2. Call our Sales team on 1850 81 81 10 to get a meter installed and arrange for the supply of electricity and/or gas to your home
3. You will be contacted by ESB Networks or Bord Gáis Networks to arrange for your meter to be installed.

We can only arrange your meter to be installed if all the work on your property has been completed to ESB Networks specifications and your Registered Gas Installer provides you with a certificate of conformance.

Before you do any work - dial before you dig

It's important to check the location of any underground gas pipes BEFORE carrying out any work on your property.

Whoever is doing the work (whether it's you, a builder or a contractor) should always dial before they dig by calling 1850 42 77 47. Bord Gáis Networks will then provide the necessary information for working safely in the vicinity of gas pipes. You can also download a safety advice booket for working in the vicinity of gas pipelines at www.bordgais.ie/networks/dial.

In the event that a pipeline is damaged while work is being carried out on your property, you may be liable to pay the repair cost of the pipeline to Bord Gáis Networks.

If you have a credit balance with your current provider you can switch, but you will need to contact them directly to find out what will happen to your credit balance.

Have a look at our Electricity and Gas custom plan (you may already be looking at it!) - then choose the options you want. You have a choice between:

• Paying your bills by Direct Debit or Non-Direct Debit
• Receiving your bills by email only or through the post
• Signing up to a 24 month/12 month fixed-term contract or no fixed-term contract

Once you know which options you'd like just contact our Customer Service team on 1850 81 22 20.

You’ll need these details to switch to Airtricity:

• For electricity, your new MPRN
• For gas, your new GPRN
• Bank details if you are paying by direct debit
• A current meter reading from your meter, not your last bill

Your MPRN/GPRN is linked to your property, not your account so they will change every time you move. If you've moved and are having trouble finding your new MPRN/GPRN try your landlord (if applicable) or the previous occupiers, or check for any old electricity/gas bills in your new property.

You can find your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) or Gas Point Reference Number (GPRN) on any of your past bills. Your MPRN will be 11 digits, and your GPRN will be 7 digits. 

If you're moving into a new property

Your MPRN/GPRN is linked to your property, not your account - so it will change every time you move. The easiest way to find your new MPRN/GPRN is to ask your landlord (if applicable) or the previous occupiers, or see if there are any old bills around.

If you have just built a new house and are yet to be billed for electricity, you should ring:

• ESB Networks on 1850 372 757 to verify your MPRN or
• Bord Gáis Networks on 1850 200 694 to verify your GPRN.

If you've bought an apartment or house on a scheme, you should contact your builder.

If you're a current Airtricity customer

You can find your MPRN/GPRN on the top right hand corner of any of your past bills. You can also find it by going to My Airtricity online. Once you're logged in just:

• Click on 'Account Details' and scroll down to 'Supply address details' or
• Click on 'Billing Overview' and open any of your past PDF bills.

Can't find it?

If you've tried all of the above and still can't find your MPRN/GPRN, just contact our Customer Service team.

If your meter box is locked you can request a meter key for free online.

Once you enter your details, we'll send your meter key out within 7-10 days.

We ask all non-direct debit customers and all tenants to pay a security deposit. This is because you are billed in arrears i.e., for energy you've already used.

How much to I have to pay?

All homeowners not paying by direct debit are required to pay a €300 security deposit. This will be refunded in full if you switch to direct debit.

All tenants are required to pay a security deposit of:

• €200 if you are paying by direct debit
• €300 if you are not paying by direct debit

Security deposits for tenants will be refunded once your account is closed and any balance paid in full.

When do I have to pay?

Your security deposit will be invoiced either before or with your first bill; this should be within 8 to 10 weeks from the date you sign up.

After your introductory rates have expired you will go onto:

• Smartsaver Standard rates if you're signed up to electricity, or
• Smartsaver Standard Dual Fuel rates if you're signed up to electricity and gas.

After you sign up you have a 7-day cooling off period (because that's the law) during which you can cancel your switch.

After this you can still switch at any time, but if you choose a fixed-term contract you may be required to pay a termination fee. You can check the terms and conditions for this product (under the Switch Now button) to find out how much this will be.

If you choose a fixed-term contract, the introductory discounts will last the same amount of time as the fixed-term.

If you choose a contract with no fixed term, the introductory discounts last for up to 12 months - the remainder of the calendar month you signed up in plus the next 11 months.

Debt-flagging is a new code of practice which has been introduced by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to reduce the number of energy customers changing suppliers to avoid debt & disconnection in both the business & domestic markets.

It applies to all energy suppliers in the Republic of Ireland.

Debt flagging will be used if you try to switch electricity or gas suppliers when you have outstanding overdue payments which are:

• More than or equal to €250
• More than 60 days overdue*

These guidelines are set by the CER. Debt-flagging will not apply to large business customers.

If you're renting and you move into a new property and want to change suppliers, you can't be debt-flagged based on the debt of a previous tenant.

If you have a dual fuel account, your current supplier can only raise a flag on your electricity &/or gas account where there is an overdue payment in line with the levels set by the CER above.

*60 days overdue means the number of days after the date at which the bills states that payment is due by. ‘Days’ are taken to mean calendar days unless otherwise specified.

If your current supplier has raised a debt-flag against you when you applied to switch us, you will receive a letter from us within 5 working days to inform you we are rejecting your application for debt-flagging reasons.

You should make contact with your current supplier to discuss the status of your account and how to clear any outstanding overdue payments.

Once your account is in the clear, you can re-apply to switch to Airtricity.

You should make contact with your current supplier to discuss the status of your account. Once you have addressed any issues and have confirmed that your account is paid up-to-date, you can re-apply to switch to Airtricity.