Setting Up Utilities in Ireland: Complete Guide to Electricity, Gas & Broadband (2026)

Setting up utilities in Ireland takes about a week of admin if you do it in the right order. Electricity and broadband are the priorities; everything else can wait until you’re in.

What you actually need

Utility	Required?	You choose?	Typical monthly cost	Setup time
Electricity	Yes	Yes	€100–€160	1–3 days
Gas	If available	Yes	€60–€130	1–3 days
Water	Yes	No (free for homes)	€0	Already on
Broadband	Optional	Yes	€35–€50 intro / €70+ after	1–3 weeks
Waste collection	Yes	Yes	€20–€40	About 1 week
TV Licence	If you own a TV	No	€160/year	Immediate

How does electricity work in Ireland?

You choose your electricity supplier from a competitive market. ESB Networks owns and maintains the physical grid as a regulated monopoly; suppliers buy from the grid and bill you. You can switch suppliers anytime, with no interruption to supply.

Suppliers compared

Supplier	Position	Notable for
Electric Ireland	Largest (default if you don’t pick)	Mid-range pricing, broad reach
Bord Gáis Energy	Major competitor	Dual-fuel discounts (electricity + gas)
SSE Airtricity	Mid-tier	Renewable energy focus
Energia	Mid-tier	Simple tariffs, growing share
Flogas, Pinergy, Prepaypower, Community Power	Smaller	Niche use cases (PAYG, smart meter, green)

Compare current rates side-by-side at bonkers.ie or switcher.ie before signing up — neither is unbiased on every plan but together they catch most live offers.

What you’ll pay (verified May 2026)

Property	Annual usage	Monthly cost
Small apartment	2,000–3,000 kWh	€70–€95
Average house	~4,200 kWh	€130–€150
Large house	6,000+ kWh	€175–€210

The bill is made up of:

• Standing charge: €240–€290/year urban (slightly higher in rural areas) — fixed, regardless of usage
• Unit rate: €0.29–€0.36 per kWh inc. VAT (cheapest plans below 30c, Electric Ireland’s standard rate is around 34.75c as of spring 2026)
• Night rate (smart-meter plans only): €0.20–€0.27 per kWh inc. VAT
• VAT 9% on energy — extended to 31 December 2030 in Budget 2026
• PSO levy: €1.46/month ex-VAT (~€19/year inc-VAT) for the period to 30 September 2026, set by the CRU
• Direct debit discount: 5–10% off most plans

For the live regulator-published comparison of all suppliers’ standard prices, see the CRU’s domestic price comparison tool or aggregators like bonkers.ie.

How do I set up electricity in Ireland?

1. Pick a supplier. Compare rates on bonkers.ie or switcher.ie. Look at standing charge + unit rate together, not just the headline.
2. Sign up online or by phone. You’ll need photo ID, proof of address (lease or first utility bill), an Irish IBAN for direct debit, and the property’s MPRN (an 11-digit number from a previous bill or the landlord — ESB Networks can provide it if not).
3. Take a meter reading on move-in day and photograph it.
4. You’re connected within 1–3 working days if the supply is already on. First bill arrives 4–6 weeks later.

Switching suppliers

Switching is essentially the same process — you contact the new supplier, they handle the rest. Switch completes in 10–15 working days, no supply interruption. Typical saving from switching annually: €300–€500/year. Watch for exit fees if you’re inside a fixed-term contract.

How does gas work in Ireland?

Natural gas is only available in cities and major towns. If you’re in a rural area, the alternatives are oil (most common), LPG, or electric heating. Check availability at gasnetworks.ie using your Eircode before assuming you have gas.

Suppliers compared

Supplier	Notable for
Bord Gáis Energy	Largest gas supplier, strong dual-fuel deals
SSE Airtricity	Competitive rates, dual-fuel discounts
Energia	Simple tariffs, growing share
Electric Ireland	Dual-fuel bundles
Flogas	Natural gas + LPG

What you’ll pay (verified May 2026)

Property	Annual usage	Monthly cost
Small apartment	5,000–8,000 kWh	€60–€80
Average house	~11,000 kWh	€120–€140
Large house	15,000+ kWh	€160–€190

Standing charge €130–€280/year (Bord Gáis Energy is around €132 — typically the lowest in market), unit rate around 10–13c/kWh ex-VAT, VAT 9% (extended to 31 December 2030).

Setting up gas

Same process as electricity — pick supplier, sign up, give them your GPRN (Gas Point Reference Number). Connection in 1–3 working days if the supply is already live.

New connection from scratch? €2,000–€4,000+, installed by Gas Networks Ireland, 4–8 weeks. Almost always the landlord’s call, not yours.

What about water bills?

Domestic water charges were abolished in Ireland in 2017. You don’t pay a water bill at home — water services are funded through general taxation. There’s nothing to set up. Report leaks to Uisce Éireann (Irish Water).

Non-residential properties (businesses) still pay metered water charges.

How does broadband work in Ireland?

You choose from competing providers, with speeds typically 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps depending on what’s available at your address. Order 2–3 weeks before you move in if you can — installation slots fill up. For a plan-by-plan price comparison across Eir, Vodafone, Sky, Virgin Media and the alternative networks, see our broadband providers in Ireland guide.

Watch the “thereafter” price. Most providers advertise 12-month introductory rates that nearly double afterwards. The cheapest intro deal can become the most expensive plan once the discount ends.

Connection types

Type	Speed	Where	Notes
Fibre	100 Mbps – 5 Gbps	Cities, larger towns	Fastest, most reliable
DSL (copper)	10–50 Mbps	Most areas	Old infrastructure, fading out
Mobile broadband	4G/5G	Most populated areas	No installation, portable
Satellite	Variable	Anywhere	Higher latency, expensive

Provider summary

Provider	Network	Coverage	Speed range
Eir	Owns most copper + Open Eir fibre	Nationwide	Up to 5 Gbps
Virgin Media	Own cable network	Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford	500 Mbps – 2 Gbps
Sky Ireland	Open Eir + SIRO	Where those are available	Up to 1 Gbps
Vodafone	SIRO + Open Eir	Where those are available	Up to 2 Gbps
SIRO	Pure fibre (wholesale only)	170+ towns	500 Mbps – 1 Gbps
Imagine	Fixed wireless 4G/5G	Rural-friendly	Lower than fibre

For a deeper provider-by-provider comparison, see our dedicated broadband guide.

What you’ll pay (verified May 2026)

Speed tier	Intro price (12 months)	Thereafter price
Entry fibre (~500 Mbps)	€35–€45	€68–€76
Fast fibre (~1 Gbps)	€40–€50	€80–€90
Ultra (2 Gbps+)	€50–€65	€90+

12-month minimum contract is standard. Router included. Installation fee usually waived for new customers, charged for switches.

Mid-contract price hikes: Eir, Vodafone and Virgin Media apply CPI + 3% increases each April to existing customers, even mid-contract. Factor that in when comparing — a “€35/month for 12 months” deal isn’t quite €35 in months 9–12.

How do I set up broadband in Ireland?

1. Check what’s available at your Eircode on each provider’s website. Speeds and providers vary street-by-street.
2. Pick a plan based on what you actually need: 50–100 Mbps is fine for a couple, 150–300 Mbps for a busy household, 1 Gbps only if you’re streaming 4K on multiple devices simultaneously.
3. Order 1–3 weeks before you move in. Most installs need a technician visit (1–2 hours). Existing connection? 3–7 days.
4. Mobile broadband as a stopgap: device arrives by post in 2–3 days. €20–€50/month, capped or unlimited.

Need a phone SIM, not home internet? See our mobile phones in Ireland guide. For cheap international calls, Lyca Mobile is popular with newcomers.

TV: do I need a licence?

€160 per year, required for any property with a TV — even if you only watch streaming, the licence depends on whether the device can receive broadcasts, not whether you use that capability. Pay at tvlicence.ie, at any post office, or by direct debit. Inspectors check; fines apply.

If you don’t own a TV at all and only stream on a laptop or phone, you don’t need a licence.

Pay-TV providers (optional)

Provider	Type	Notes
Virgin Media TV	Cable	Sport packages, broadband bundles
Sky Ireland	Satellite	Strong sport, premium movies
Eir Vision	IPTV	Bundled with Eir broadband
Vodafone TV	IPTV	Bundled with Vodafone broadband

Most newer households skip pay-TV entirely and use Netflix, Prime, Disney+, NOW and similar.

How does waste collection work in Ireland?

Waste is collected by private companies, not the council. You sign up directly with a provider, pay a monthly service charge plus per-lift or per-weight costs, and they deliver the bins.

Three-bin system

• Black bin: general waste (most expensive)
• Green bin: recycling (plastic, paper, glass, metal — cheapest)
• Brown bin: food and garden waste

Major providers

Provider	Coverage
Panda Waste	Nationwide
Thorntons Recycling	Dublin and surrounds
Greyhound Recycling	Cork, Dublin, others
Barna Waste	Dublin and Leinster
City Bin Co.	Nationwide

Find what’s in your area at mywaste.ie.

Pricing

• Service charge: €10–€15/month
• Per-lift: €5–€8 per bin lifted
• Some providers also weigh: €0.10–€0.15 per kg

Typical total: €20–€40/month. Pay-by-weight is cheaper if you produce little waste; flat-rate gives predictable bills.

Setting up

Sign up online with your chosen provider. They deliver bins in 1–2 weeks and confirm your collection day. Standard bin sizes: 120L, 240L, 360L.

Comparison and switching

Tool	Compares	Notes
bonkers.ie	Energy, broadband, insurance	Most comprehensive
switcher.ie	Energy, broadband	Simpler interface
CRU.ie	Energy only (regulator)	Unbiased reference data

Dual-fuel discount (electricity + gas with same supplier) is typically 5–10%. Broadband + TV bundles can save €5–€10/month vs separate. Always check the thereafter rate, not just the intro.

Monthly utility cost — what to budget

Apartment, 1–2 people:

Item	Cost
Electricity	€70–€95
Gas (if applicable)	€60–€80
Broadband (intro rate)	€35–€50
Waste	€20–€30
TV Licence (€160/yr)	€13
Total	€198–€268

House, 2–4 people:

Item	Cost
Electricity	€130–€150
Gas	€120–€140
Broadband (intro rate)	€40–€55
Waste	€25–€40
TV Licence	€13
Total	€328–€398

Broadband shown at intro rate. After 12 months, expect €68–€90 unless you switch — which is exactly why most savvy households switch annually.

For full cost-of-living context, see our cost of living in Ireland guide.

When something goes wrong

Problem	First call
Power outage	ESB Networks 1850 372 999 (check neighbours first)
Smell of gas	Leave the property, then Gas Networks Ireland 1850 20 50 50
Broadband down	Restart router, check provider’s status page, then support
Billing dispute	Provider first, then CRU.ie if unresolved

For newcomers from abroad

You’ll need an Irish bank account before you can set up direct debits — most utility providers won’t take a foreign card or IBAN. See our bank accounts in Ireland guide for which option to open first.

A few things that surprise new arrivals:

• You pick your electricity supplier — it’s not fixed by area
• No water bills for residential properties
• Waste collection is private, not council-run
• TV licence applies to the device, not to whether you watch broadcast TV
• Plugs: UK Type G — same as the UK. EU 2-pin plugs need adapters; US plugs need step-up transformers (Ireland is 230V, the US is 110V)

If you’re moving to Ireland, the country-specific guides cover the rest of the relocation: Americans, British citizens, EU nationals.

Useful contacts

Energy and water:

• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) — cru.ie — the regulator’s domestic price comparison is the unbiased reference for electricity and gas rates
• ESB Networks — esbnetworks.ie / 1850 372 999
• Gas Networks Ireland — gasnetworks.ie / 1850 20 50 50
• Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) — water.ie

Broadband:

• ComReg (telecoms regulator) — comreg.ie

Waste and TV:

• mywaste.ie — find local providers
• tvlicence.ie — pay your TV licence

---

Prices on this page were last verified against published supplier tariffs and CRU/Revenue/An Post sources in May 2026. Energy and broadband prices change frequently — for live rates, use CRU’s price comparison tool linked above. We’ll re-check the figures every 3 months and update the “Last reviewed” date.