How to switch electricity or gas supplier in Northern Ireland
Switching supplier, tariff or how you pay can lower your bill. It's mostly done for you by the new supplier. Here's what to expect.
Three ways to save
- Switch supplier: move to a different company.
- Switch tariff: stay with your supplier but move to a cheaper tariff.
- Switch how you pay: keypad (pay as you go), Direct Debit or paying a bill every quarter. Some suppliers also give a discount for online billing.
Who can I switch to?
For electricity, you can choose from five suppliers for NI homes: Budget Energy, Click Energy, Power NI, Share Energy and SSE Airtricity.
For natural gas, it depends on where you live. Greater Belfast has a choice of two suppliers, while the Ten Towns and the West have one each.
How to switch, step by step
- Find your yearly usage in kWh on your bill or annual statement. If you don't have it, tell us what you spend instead.
- Compare tariffs for your usage and the way you want to pay.
- Check your current tariff for an early exit fee. Many NI tariffs have none, but some fixed-term ones do.
- Sign up with the new supplier. They arrange the switch with your current supplier and tell you when it will happen.
- Have a recent meter reading ready, and pay any final bill from your old supplier.
- You can normally cancel within a short cooling-off period if you change your mind. Your new supplier will tell you how long you have.
Will anything change at my home?
No work is needed for an electricity switch. NIE Networks runs the electricity network and owns the meters whichever supplier you choose, so only who you buy from and pay changes.
On a keypad meter?
You can switch with a keypad meter too. If you're paying back money you owe through your keypad, ask your current supplier how it would be handled before you switch.
Your rights as an energy customer
- Electricity suppliers must follow the Utility Regulator's Marketing Code of Practice, which protects you from pressure selling and mis-selling.
- Every electricity and gas supplier keeps a Customer Care Register. If you're of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick, you can register for free help such as large-print or Braille bills and password schemes.
- If you complain to your supplier and you're unhappy with the outcome, the Consumer Council can help.
Questions, answered
Can I change tariff without changing supplier?
Yes. Most suppliers have more than one tariff, and you may save by moving to a different one or changing how you pay, without switching company.
Does it cost anything to switch?
If you're on a fixed-term tariff, check whether it has an early exit fee before you leave. Many NI tariffs have no exit fee, and comparing with us is free.
Does the GB energy price cap apply in Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland has its own energy market, regulated by the Utility Regulator, so the Ofgem price cap used in England, Scotland and Wales doesn't apply here. That's why NI prices need an NI comparison.
Sources
Facts checked 19 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm with the supplier.