How Much is the Average Electricity Bill in Ireland ?

When householders start looking into the high cost of electricity – it can be useful to compare their electricity to other households. But – How Much is the average electricity bill in Ireland in 2024 ?


Energy prices in Ireland and elsewhere rose drastically in 2022 and 2023 – but in late 2023 we started to see electricity prices falling again .

We all use electricity in our homes – and electricity bills can make up a big part of annual household expenditure. Overall, electricity usage per appliance is dropping as modern appliances become more energy efficient. But the increasing number of electrical gadgets and devices in our homes is also helping to keep the average electricity consumption high.

The most recent electricity usage figures for Ireland, produced by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) ,  say that 4200kWh is now the “official” average annual electricity usage for households in Ireland. (Reference)


How Much Does Electricity Cost in Ireland?

Based on “standard” charging rates from the most prominent provider – Electric Ireland – the average usage of 4200 kWh of electricity a year will result in an annual electricity bill of €1756. (March 2024).

(Urban 24-hour rates , Inclusive of VAT PSO and standing charges.)

Electric Ireland charges 35.83c  per kWh and a Standing Charge of €251 including VAT.


Note- VAT on electricity in Ireland is temporarily reduced from 13.5% to 9% until the end of October 2024.

TIP: It can be a good idea to register at One Big Switch which often arranges good deals with energy providers for members. It’s free and once you are registered they will let you know about any energy deals they have agreed with suppliers.

In March 2024 – Electric Ireland’s standard charges work out as : –

  • an average annual electricity bill of €1756
  • an average of €293  for each 2 monthly bill.
  • an average of €146 per month.

Of course – most households will use more electricity in the winter compared to the summer months because of things like heaters, tumble driers etc. It is estimated that electricity usage will be 36% more in the winter months.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about €30 to €50 more per year than this for average usage.  See a comparison of Rural Electricity Charges here.


VAT on Electricity Decreased


The VAT on electricity was temporarily reduced from 13.5% to 9% from May 1st 2022. See more here about VAT Rate Reduction . This reduction is not due to finish until the end of October 2024.


How much does 1 Kwh of Electricity cost in Ireland?

One “unit” or one KwH of electricity costs 35.83 cents in March 2024 . (Including VAT)
This figure is based on Electric Ireland’s standard rates.

It may be possible to get cheaper-priced electricity than this.
For more details – see our page on switching providers to get  the Cheapest Electricity in Ireland

You can do your own comparison at the useful Switcher website


Average Electricity Bills in Ireland

We have estimated what might be typical electricity usage and bills for different types of households.

The figure of 4200 kWh of electricity usage per year is an average for all households – but obviously, not all households are “average”.


Property
Type


Annual
Usage Kwh

Annual
Bill
Monthly
Bill

Bi-Monthly
Bill
1 / 2  Bed
Apartment
2100€1003€84€167
1/ 2 Bed
Apartment
(All Electric)
5000€2042€170€340
2 Bed  Semi3000€1326€110€221
3/4 Bed Semi4200€1756€146€293
3/4 Bed
Detached
6000€2400€200€400
5/6 Bed
Detached
8000€3117€256€520

The prices above are based on Electric Ireland’s Urban 24 hr Tariff – Standard Rate (Jan 2024). (The PSO Levy is included).

It’s interesting to see that a doubling (100% increase) of electricity usage from 2100 kWh to 4200 kWh only results in overall electricity bills increasing by 75%.
This anomaly is because a large part of the bill is made up of fixed-price standing charges.




Take a look at our Comparison of Electricity Prices in Ireland

You can do your own comparison at the useful Switcher website


How Much Have Electricity Charges Changed ?

This is a summary of the annual electricity charges for an average usage home in Ireland over the past 5 years : (based on Electric Ireland standard rates)

  • €947 in mid 2017
  • €1063 in October 2018
  • €1005 in January 2019
  • €1044 in October 2019
  • 1013 in April 2020
  • €1098 October 2020
  • €1274 Nov 2021
  • €1509 in May 2022
  • €1674 in August 2022
  • €2113 in August 2023
  • €1909 in Jan 2024
  • €1756 in March 2024


Which Appliances Use the Most Electricity?

A “unit” of electricity is 1kwh and will cost about 36c including VAT

One Kwh or “one unit” is the amount of energy you would use if you kept a 1,000 watt appliance running for an hour:


Here are some estimates of how long it would take to run various electric appliances to cost you €1.

(Unit rate used of 36c)

  • Using a 9.8kwh electric shower for about 16 minutes
  • Using a 100w electric throw for 26 hours
  • Keeping an immersion heater (3,000 watts) on for 55 minutes
  • A desktop Computer (200w average) for 13 hours
  • Cooking in a 2,000-watt oven for about 1hr 25 min.
  • Cooking in a 1000W Microwave for 2 hr 30 min
  • Tumble Dryer – running for 2 hours min (will vary by model) – see Tumble Dryer Usage
  • Ironing with a 1,500 watt iron for 1hr 50 min.
  • Using a dishwasher for 2 cycles (on eco)
  • Watching a plasma TV (280 – 450 watts) – about 7 hours
  • Keeping a fridge-freezer (200 – 400 watts) on for about 10 hours
  • Using a laptop (20 – 50 watts) about 75 hours
  • Keep a 5 watt LED light bulb on for 480 hours

Compare Dual Fuel Prices

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If you are looking for cheaper electricity – you should register with One Big Switch . They often arrange good deals with energy providers for members. It’s free to join and once you are registered they will let you know about any energy deals they have agreed with suppliers.

If you have a mortgage – you could potentially save thousands of Euros in a few years by switching mortgage lender. Take a look at the savings you could make by switching mortgage.