Hosting Ireland launches ‘Priority Support’ for businesses
Hosting Ireland, one of Ireland’s largest web hosting companies today launched ‘Priority Support’ a new feature for business and enterprise customers looking for that extra reassurance.
Businesses need to ensure that they always receive not only first-class support but also a rapid response to potential problems and or queries. ‘Priority Support’ means your emails / tickets are set as a priority for our team to answer and resolve. This gives peace of mind and allows businesses to focus their time on their own business.
In addition, Hosting Ireland has upped the spec of their business hosting, now offering 25GB disk space as standard in addition to servers that are actually in Ireland, the ability to host 50 websites and 50 databases, 250 email accounts, auto security patching, cPanel, Performance Plus+ resources, PHP versions 5.4-7.2, Git Version Control, 445+ free installs, Malware Scanning and webstats. All for just €9.95 plus vat per month (one month setup fee applies) or €99.95 plus vat per year with free setup and two months free!
‘Priority Support’ is available with Cloud Business, Cloud Ultima and Enterprise 1, Enterprise 2 and Enterprise 3 hosting packages.
If you’re a business why go anywhere else for your web hosting?
CRU confirms PSO Levy decrease of 55%
Change will come into effect from 1 October
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has announced a decrease in the PSO levy for 2018/19. The levy is going down by 55%, which will mean a decrease of €50.52 (€57.34 incl. VAT) per year on consumers’ electricity bills.
The new total levy will now be €41.76 (€47.40 incl. VAT) per year, down from €92.28 (€104.74 incl. VAT). The decrease will come into effect from 1 October, so all domestic electricity customers in Ireland will see their bills reduce slightly from this date.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, said: “The PSO levy is a standard charge that all electricity customers have to pay, regardless of our electricity usage, so any decrease in this is welcome news.
“The problem is that this €57 decrease in the Levy follows a spate of energy price hikes, which are going to add up to €180 onto some customers’ bills, so it’s really just a drop in the ocean in terms of what’s going on in the wider market. Within just a few days from now, eight price hikes will have taken effect, so energy bills are going to start shooting up soon. This will hit consumers especially hard as we move into the colder months and are using more energy at home.
“What all this means is that the PSO Levy decrease is not likely to even be noticed by hard-pressed consumers by the time October comes around. However, consumers can make significant, immediate savings on their energy bills just by switching. Despite the hikes, the average electricity customer can still save up to €173 by moving from a standard tariff to the cheapest deal on the market, and dual fuel customers can save more than double this. It only takes five minutes, and added to the PSO Levy decrease, will really help to take the sting out of winter energy bills.”
Consumers can compare energy deals at https://switcher.ie/gas-electricity/ and see how much they can save.
For more information, visit Switcher.ie
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
Notes to editors
About the PSO Levy
The PSO levy is one of the standard components of all electricity bills for electricity customers in Ireland and is collected at the same time as payment for the power which has been used. It is marked as a separate charge on electricity bills.
The purpose of the levy is to cover the additional costs associated with producing sustainable and renewable energy in Ireland. Certain energy sources, such as some thermal power stations and wind farms, are also supported by the levy, because this kind of power is relatively more expensive, and these energy sources are better for the environment.
The CRU calculates the PSO levy in accordance with Government policy, based on an estimate of costs, and helps to ensure that the scheme is administered appropriately and efficiently.
Historic PSO levy changes
The table below highlights the monthly and annual changes in cost to the PSO levy from 2011 to date. Rates exclude 13.5% VAT.
Year | Monthly levy amount | Annual levy amount | |
---|---|---|---|
2011-2012 | €1.61 | €19.33 | |
2012-2013 | €2.32 | €27.82 | |
2013-2014 | €3.57 | €42.87 | |
2014-2015 | €5.36 | €64.37 | |
2015-2016 | €5.01 | €60.09 | |
2016-2017 | €5.90 | €70.75 | |
2017-2018 | €7.69 | €92.28 | |
2018-2019 | €3.48 | €41.76 |
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Roaming in the dark – quarter of consumers hit with shock mobile phone bill after holiday abroad
- A quarter of consumers (25%) have come home to an unexpectedly high phone bill after a trip overseas[1], with bills as high as €700[2]
- EU ‘Roam like at Home’ rules are designed to protect mobile phone customers when abroad, but two-thirds (65%) of Irish consumers are in the dark about them[3]
- At risk: Four in ten (39%) mistakenly believe these EU rules either apply to all phone use all over Europe, or will protect them anywhere overseas[3]
- Almost four in ten (37%) leave roaming on while they’re away – just one in ten (14%) check overseas charges with their phone provider before travelling[4]
- Switcher.ie advises consumers to “research before you roam” to avoid post-holiday bill shock.
Holiday season is well and truly upon us, but new research from Switcher.ie shows a lack of understanding of roaming charges and EU ‘Roam like at Home’ rules could leave some phone users facing significant mobile bills.
A quarter of Irish consumers (25%) admit they have come home to an unexpectedly high roaming bill in the past[1]. For the majority (82%), these bills were less than €200, while 15% had bills between €200 and €500, and 3% ended up with a bill ranging from €550 to a whopping €700[2].
Despite this, 99% of holiday makers will take their phones on holiday with them this year, with four in ten (42%) saying they will use their phone the same amount or more than they would at home[5].
The EU’s ‘Roam like at Home’ rules, which were introduced last year, offer protection to those travelling within the EU. But as many as two-thirds of consumers (65%) is in the dark about these rules. Almost four in ten (39%) mistakenly believe that these rules either apply to all phone use all over Europe (not just within the EU) or will protect them anywhere overseas[3].
One in ten (9%) believe they can make calls and send texts like at home either in all of Europe or anywhere overseas, but that there may be a cap on data. Worryingly, two in ten (17%) either hasn’t heard about the rules at all, or has heard about them but doesn’t know any details[3].
In destinations like Asia, the US and Australia, charges for calls to home can be over €3 per minute, while sending a single text costs up to 75 cent, and accessing the internet via roaming costs between €5 and €10 per MB[6]. When you consider that 1MB is only enough data to browse one website, it’s easy to see how costs could quickly add up for people travelling further afield this summer.
Despite this, just 14% say they have checked charges with their phone provider and will adjust their usage accordingly while travelling, and almost four in ten consumers (37%) will leave roaming on while they’re abroad, either because they don’t use their phone much, or because they believe they can use their phone the same way as at home where they’re going. However, others will make some changes to avoid being charged. A quarter (26%) say they’ll turn off roaming completely and only use WiFi, while a similar number (23%) will just turn on roaming sporadically to check social media and emails[4].
But, for the majority, the love affair with their mobile phones will continue throughout their vacation, with two-thirds (65%) saying they’ll be using online messaging services – like WhatsApp and Viber. At the same time, texting (63%), taking photos and videos (63%), phoning (46%), emailing (43%) and updating or checking social media (38%) will ensure phones are never far from our hands[7].
And, despite the potential expense, it seems our desire for content will still be strong, with one in five (20%) saying they’ll either download or stream music or video content while away[7].
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, said: “If you’re one of the many Irish consumers heading away this summer, make sure you check charges for roaming before you jet off. A quick call to your network can help you to make informed choices about your mobile use while you’re away and avoid a nasty post-holiday bill.
“If you’re travelling outside the EU, this will be particularly important. Costs for data roaming further afield can be really high, but you can limit the damage by turning off roaming and sticking to WiFi. And, if you’re planning on calling home a lot, using online apps like WhatsApp or Skype over WiFi to do so could save you a packet. Some providers also offer special roaming bundles, which give you a set amount of calls, texts and data overseas, so they’re worth checking out.
“Meanwhile, if you’re travelling within the EU, make sure you understand what ‘Roam like at Home’ means for you. If you’re a talker or a texter, the rules should work out really well for you. However, if you’re a heavy data user, you’ll need to be careful about how you use your data in the EU to avoid excess charges – try downloading content over WiFi, rather than streaming, and turn off automatic updates for apps.”
For more information, visit Switcher.ie
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
Notes to editors
Research was carried out for Switcher.ie by iReach Insights, involving 1,001 online interviews with Irish adults aged 18+years. The total sample is representative of the national population in Ireland.
[1] In response to the question: “Have you ever come back from holiday to find an unexpectedly high mobile phone bill due to roaming charges? Yes/No.”
[2] In response to the question: “(Anyone who has come back to an unexpectedly high mobile phone bills) How high was that mobile phone bill? Less than €50/ €51 – €75/ €76 – €100/ €101 – €150/ €151 – €200/ €201 – €250/ €251 – €300/ €301 – €350/ €351 – €400/ €401 – €450/ €451 – €500/ €501 – €550/ €551 – €600/ €601 – €650/ €651 – €700/ €701 – €750/ €751 – €800/ €800+”
[3] In response to the question: “‘Roam like at Home’ rules were introduced last year. Which of the following statements best describes your understanding of those rules? They mean I can use my phone within Europe like I would at home/ They mean I can use my phone within the EU like I would at home/ They mean I can use my phone while abroad like I would at home/ They mean I can use my texts and calls like at home while in Europe, but there may be a cap on data/ They mean I can use my texts and calls like at home while in EU, but there may be a cap on data/ They mean I can use my texts and calls like at home while I’m abroad, but there may be a cap on data/ I haven’t heard about these rules/ I’ve heard about these rules but I don’t know any details.”
[4] In response to the question: “In terms of mobile phone charges and fees, which of the following statements best applies to you? Please select only one. I’m worried about charges for using my phone overseas, so I will turn off roaming completely and only use WiFi/ I will turn off roaming on my phone and just turn it on sporadically to check social media and emails because I don’t want to incur any overseas charges/ I will not turn off roaming as I don’t use my phone much and don’t think I’ll face additional charges/ I won’t turn off roaming because where I am going I can use my phone the same way as I do at home/ I have checked all of the charges with my phone provider and will adjust my usage accordingly.”
[5] In response to the question: “You said you were planning to go abroad this year, which of the following statements best reflects how you will use your mobile phone? I will have lots to update and talk about on social media, so I’m likely to use my phone even more than usual/ I will use my phone just as much as I would if I was at home/ I will use the opportunity for a phone detox and only use it occasionally/ I’ll use it only in case of emergencies/ I won’t take my phone with me.”
[6] Roaming charges for Irish customers when travelling in the USA:
Provider | Data | Making calls home | Receiving calls | Sending texts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
eir Mobile | €10.24 / MB | €1.69 /min | €1.59 /min | 39 cent each | |
Lycamobile | Not available | €3.04 /min | €2.99 / min | 75 cent each | |
Tesco Mobile | €2.40 / MB | €2.08 /min | €2.08 /min | 64 cent each | |
Three | €5.08 /MB | €1.78 /min | €1.01 /min | 35.58 cent each | |
Virgin Mobile | €7.00 /MB | €1.99 /min | €0.99 /min | 40 cent each | |
Vodafone | €6.15 /MB | €1.41 /min | €1.41 /min | 30 cent each |
Vodafone also offers has a default roaming tariff called RED Roaming, which has a daily fee of €2.99 for unlimited calls, SMS and 200MB of data per day.
[7] In response to the question: “Which of the following will you use your phone for whilst abroad? Please select all that apply. Phoning/ Texting/ Emailing/ Messaging on services like WhatsApp/Viber/ Downloading music/video content/films/ Streaming music/video content/films/ Updating/checking up on social media/ Taking photographs/videoing/ Facetiming/video calls/ As an alarm clock/ Other.”
About the EU roaming rules
According to the European Commission’s Roaming Q&A, communications (phone calls, SMS, data) made from another EU country will be covered in your national bundle: the minutes, SMS and gigabytes of data that you consume abroad in the EU will be charged or deducted from the volumes of your national tariff plan exactly as if you were at home.
If at home you have unlimited calls and SMS, you will get unlimited calls and SMS when roaming in the EU. If your national mobile bundle includes unlimited data, your operator must provide you with a large volume of roam like at home data depending on the price of your mobile bundle. Your operator should clearly inform you of this roam like at home data allowance. If you use more data while roaming than your allowance, you may have to pay a small charge (a maximum of €6 per GB plus VAT in 2018, which will decline gradually to reach €2.50/GB as of 2022).
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Summer price hike season continues – Bord Gáis Energy customers to see gas and electricity bill increase by €96.72 per year
Bord Gáis Energy has become the seventh supplier to announce an energy price hike this summer.
From 6 August, the supplier will increase electricity prices by 5.8%, adding €60 onto the annual bill for an average customer. Meanwhile, gas prices will go up by 4.7%, which will add €36.72 onto the average annual gas bill. An average dual fuel customer with the supplier will see their annual bills go up by €96.72.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, says: “Unfortunately, wholesale energy prices have shot up in recent months. As a result, the vast majority of suppliers have implemented at least one price increase since last winter and today’s news signals that there’s no end in sight.
“Almost all Irish energy customers will be impacted by at least one of this summer’s hikes, with higher rates starting to take hold in the coming weeks. And, while heating might be the last thing on our minds while we’re enjoying this rare stretch of good weather, the increases are going to have a big impact when we return to colder weather and the evenings start to close in.
“Although it may not sound like it, there are still good savings to be made on energy if people take control of their bills and regularly switch. However, only a small percentage of Irish consumers do so each year, which means many are missing out on savings. With well over €300 to be saved by switching from standard tariffs and the cheapest deals on the market, and discounts available for things like paying by Direct Debit and receiving bills online, we’d strongly advise anyone who hasn’t switched in the past year to take a few minutes to do so now to help counteract the impact of these increases.”
Switching is straightforward and free. Use Switcher.ie’s free gas and electricity comparison tool to get started – comparing deals and making a switch only takes around 5 minutes.
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Panda Power and Pinergy become fifth and sixth suppliers to announce energy price hikes this summer
Following four price hikes announced in June, Panda Power and Pinergy have both announced this morning that they are also hiking prices from 1 August.
Panda Power will be increasing their electricity standard unit rate by 5.9% and their gas standard unit rate by 5%. This will mean an increase of almost €80 on a typical dual fuel bill.
Meanwhile, Pinergy will hike its electricity prices by 9.38% from 1 August. The increase will add €71.76 onto the average annual electricity bill.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, says: “The price increases are coming thick and fast now, with these announcements bringing the total amount of suppliers who are raising their prices to six. There are only 10 energy suppliers in the market, and it’s likely we’ll see all of the remaining four announce similar hikes, too.
“Any increase in energy prices is really bad news for consumers, especially when you consider that energy is a household essential that we can’t live without. The average dual fuel bill for customers on standard tariffs already stands at almost €1,800 per year, which makes up a big chunk of many households’ outgoings, and it seems this price is only going to go up.
“Anyone who hasn’t switched to a new energy supplier in the last year is on what’s known as a standard tariff, which means there are huge savings to be made by switching. The average household could save hundreds of euro by switching from standard tariffs to the cheapest deals on the market, which could go a long way towards offsetting the damage that will be done with these price hikes.”
Switching is straightforward and free. Use Switcher.ie’s free gas and electricity comparison tool to get started – comparing deals and making a switch only takes around 5 minutes.
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Great Value Domain Name and Web Hosting!
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Energia dual fuel customers to see bills rise by €180 per year as fourth energy price hike of the summer is announced
Energia has just announced that it is to increase its electricity and gas prices by 7.6% and 12.38% respectively from 1 August. The increase will add almost €180 onto the average annual bill for an Energia dual fuel customer, with electricity-only customers seeing their bills rise by €82.68 and gas-only customers facing a €96.72 increase.
Back in December, the supplier increased electricity prices by 3.9%, or €31 per year. It did not increase gas prices at that time. Energia says its latest increases are in response to a significant rise in wholesale energy costs.
This is the fourth energy price hike to be announced this month, with SSE Airtricity[1], Electric Ireland[2] and Flogas[3] already announcing increases.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, says: “As we feared, another round of energy price hikes is definitely upon us now, with this latest announcement from Energia bringing the total amount of suppliers who are raising their prices to four.
“Any price increase is bad news, but this latest round of hikes has been particularly high – for example, an average customer who has a dual fuel plan with Energia will see their annual bill rise by €180. This is really bad news for customers who might already be struggling to make ends meet.
“If you’re going to be impacted by these hikes, we would strongly encourage you to shop around for a new deal now. The average dual fuel customer can save up to €342[4] by switching from standard tariffs to the cheapest deals on the market, so this could help to soften the impact of the rises. You could also consider a fixed-rate energy plan. These generally don’t offer as low a rate as discounted variable tariffs, but there is still value to be had, and you’ll be insulated from price increases for the duration of your contract, which could give you some peace of mind.”
Switching is straightforward and free. Use Switcher.ie’s free gas and electricity comparison tool to get started – comparing deals and making a switch only takes around 5 minutes.
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
Notes to editors
[1] Source: Switcher.ie – SSE Airtricity to raise gas and electricity prices from 14 July – typical dual fuel customer will see an annual increase of €140
[2] Source: Switcher.ie – Second energy price hike this month – Electric Ireland to increase gas and electricity prices
[3] Source: Switcher.ie – Third energy price hike this month – Flogas to increase gas prices by 12.8% from 1 August
[4] Source: Switcher.ie – How does Switcher calculate its savings messages?
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Third energy price hike this month – Flogas to increase gas prices by 12.8% from 1 August
Hot on the heels of price increase announcements from SSE Airtricity and Electric Ireland, Flogas has just announced that it is to increase its gas prices by 12.8% from 1 August. The increase will add €92.56 onto the average annual gas bill.
In December, the supplier increased its gas prices by 3.3%, which amounted to just over €20 per year. The company says the latest hike is unavoidable, due to rising wholesale costs.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, says: “Three price hikes coming so close together is a worrying sign that we’re smack bang in the middle of another round of price hikes, even though we last saw price rises across the board just last winter. At that stage, gas hikes topped out at around €25 per year, so these most recent hikes are really significant.
“For customers impacted by one of these recent price hikes – or those with other suppliers who are worried they will also suffer a second price rise – now is the time to take action. There are still heavily-discounted plans available to customers who switch to a new supplier, along with ongoing discounts for things like paying by Direct Debit, always paying on time, and opting to receive bills online. However, the problem is that less than 15% of us switch each year, so most of us are missing out on these potential savings.
“If you’re an average dual fuel customer, you could save up to €342 by switching from typical standard tariffs to the cheapest deals on the market. It only takes a few minutes, so we’d urge you to take the time now to make sure you’re on the best possible discount before these price hikes come into effect.”
Switching is straightforward and free. Use Switcher.ie’s free gas and electricity comparison tool to get started – comparing deals and making a switch only takes around 5 minutes.
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
Notes to editors
[1] Source – Switcher.ie: How does Switcher calculate its savings messages?
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.
Second energy price hike this month – Electric Ireland to increase gas and electricity prices
Electric Ireland has just announced that it is to increase its electricity and gas prices by 6.2% and 8% respectively from 1 August. The increase – the second it has made in six months – adds €56 onto the average annual electricity bill and €55 onto the average annual gas bill.
In February, the supplier increased electricity prices by 4%, or almost €35 per year, but did not increase gas prices at that time. The company says the latest increases are in direct response to sustained increases in wholesale energy prices.
Consumers are now being warned to brace themselves for similar moves from other suppliers.
Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, says: “This spells bad news for cash-strapped consumers. Household energy prices rose across the board just last winter, but today’s announcement – which comes hot on the heels of a price hike from SSE Airtricity – suggests that there’s still more to come. People will really start to feel the pinch once these increases begin to bite on their bills.
“Many of us are already stretched to the limit and simply cannot afford to pay through the nose for essentials like gas and electricity. This is why it’s crucial to make sure we’re all paying the lowest rate possible for our household energy, as this will help to soften the impact of any hikes.
“But little over one in ten of us switch energy suppliers each year. If you haven’t already shopped around then we would strongly urge you to do so now. An average dual fuel customer switching from typical standard tariffs to the cheapest deals on the market can save up to €342[1], and you’ll save even more if you have higher consumption. If you’re really concerned about future hikes, you could also consider a fixed-rate energy deal – you won’t make such a large initial saving, but you will be protected from future price hikes for a period of time and this peace of mind could be worth its weight in gold.”
Switching is straightforward and free. Use Switcher.ie’s free gas and electricity comparison tool to get started – comparing deals and making a switch only takes around 5 minutes.
For more information, visit Switcher.ie
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Maeve McLaughlin, Switcher.ie on 01 517 5922/087 133 2526 or prteam@switcher.ie
Images for use are available on Flickr here.
Notes to editors
[1] Source – Switcher.ie: How does Switcher calculate its savings messages?
About us
Switcher.ie launched in January 2013, with the aim of offering consumers free, independent and impartial price comparison and switching services for gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television. Switcher.ie aims to make it easier for Irish households to compare prices, save money on their regular bills, get the best deals on offer and make their hard-earned money go that bit further. Switcher.ie is accredited by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as an impartial, accurate and independent supplier of domestic energy price comparisons and is a member of Guaranteed Irish.
Broadband customers can conduct a speed test to find out how fast their broadband is and to identify the best broadband provider for their location.
Switcher.ie is owned by Switcher Limited, a privately funded internet-based business focused on consumer engagement and innovation.