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Uwe Niederberger

Competition is finally heating up for power and gas customers

Energia has cut its rates only a few days after a new player emerged in the market.

ENERGIA HAS RESPONDED to a low-price offer from a new competitor by cutting its rates for both people switching to its services and existing customers.

The energy company is offering a 19% discount on the standard electricity-only rate for new customers, a deal which it said could save €190 a year per household.

The deal comes only a few days after Panda Waste launched its energy arm, Panda Power, with an 18% discount – at the time the cheapest unit rate on the market.

New Energia customers on dual-fuel setups will get a 20% discount on electricity and 17% off their gas.

The energy company also said it was giving customers who were already signed up discounts of 2.5% and 2% respectively on gas and electricity prices on top of any deals they were already getting.

It will be running a “cheep-purr” advertising campaign (which partially explains these models dresses as a cat and budgie) to promote the lower rates.

Ener Energia marketing manager Geoff Codd, with models Hannah Goff and Hayley Ryan. Conor McCabe Conor McCabe

‘Fleecing’ customers

Recent figures showed Irish consumers were paying the third-highest rates in the EU for electricity – and the most before taxes and levies were added – in the second half of last year.

Suppliers have so far been slow to pass on the benefits of low energy prices, which have been driven down with the global glut of oil coming from the major producers.

The “big four” retail providers – Energia, Airtricity, Electric Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy – were accused of “fleecing” their loyal customers at an Oireachtas committee meeting earlier this year.

However consumers have also been blamed for being slow to change suppliers to get a better deal.

Eoin Clarke, the managing director of comparison site Switcher.ie, said increased competition in the energy market was pushing down prices but customers needed to “take matters into their own hands” and get the best rate.

First published 11.48am

READ: New Mayo power plant to create 350 jobs >

READ: ‘Worrying’ increase in people climbing electricity poles with festival bunting >

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15 Comments
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    Mute BannerBoyDesmond
    Favourite BannerBoyDesmond
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    Jun 8th 2015, 11:51 AM

    Energia charge the highest standing charge out of all suppliers. Its about 3.5 times the price of electric Ireland. Not sure if they have raised it to offset these discounts. Always read the fine print!

    159
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    Mute Josephine Carroll
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:19 PM

    Well I changed from ESB a few years ago to Airtricity…..cheaper for a few months and then my bills were the most expensive….im back now with electric Ireland and bills are more normal…i havent had huge bills since leaving airtricity….never again!

    108
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    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:10 PM

    One of the most expensive unit rates in Europe..most expensive variable rate mortgage..vrt..etc will we ever get a break?

    138
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    Mute Swiftcub
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:03 PM

    Cheap for the first 3 months… the 4th month ….then its 3 pints of blood and your first born

    124
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    Mute Patrick King
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:22 PM

    So what are the regulatory staff doing about this? Or is that the Regulator who regulates anything but prices?!…….only in Ireland!

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    Mute SUSAN LLOYD
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    Jun 8th 2015, 4:37 PM

    Why do even have a regulator?

    31
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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    Jun 8th 2015, 6:10 PM

    just like the Banking Regulator….none of them worth a tosd

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    Mute john kinsella
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    Jun 8th 2015, 8:41 PM

    It’s a makie uppy job for some politicians crony. Giving his favourite life long civil servant who’s about to retire another dip into the tax payers pockets.

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    Mute Rebecca Byrne
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:20 PM

    Not one but two pictures of ‘lovely girls’ to accompany this article, how tiresome.

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    Mute rory conway
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    Jun 8th 2015, 11:52 AM

    Are they the first to include existing customers?

    47
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jun 8th 2015, 11:54 AM

    yippee it must be down to the great work be done by our leader Enda attracting new energy station to Mayo.. It’s all about competition and we all know how good Enda is. Yes the contract to the Irish people and sysmic shifts.

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    Mute glenoir1
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:52 PM

    Pinergy really rips people off rental alone of the Meter and then regular charges on top

    42
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    Jun 8th 2015, 12:01 PM

    Why will flogas not allow me to give my gas meter reading?

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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jun 8th 2015, 4:26 PM

    Flogas are a bit backward, you’ve to ring in your meter reading when I was with them 2 years ago.

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    Mute Emmet Kilbride
    Favourite Emmet Kilbride
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    Jun 8th 2015, 5:43 PM

    LMAO..Is this what you think this is about??????

    Its about wiping out the new competition so they can then charge as much as they like…..back to the old ways.

    Similar to what OPEC did in order to wipe out the fracking industry in USA.

    Really how many times are you going to fall for this type of stunt.

    I weep for the future

    13
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