Farm Electricity Switching FAQ for Irish Farmers

Switching electricity supplier on a farm can involve more than simply comparing one electricity rate.

Farmers may have several meters, higher electricity consumption, day/night usage, solar PV, export payments and different contract arrangements across the farm.

This guide answers common questions about farm electricity switching in Ireland.

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What Do I Need Before Switching Farm Electricity Supplier?

Having the right information available makes it easier to compare farm electricity tariffs accurately.

Useful information can include:

a recent electricity bill
your Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN)
your current electricity supplier
your existing tariff
recent or annual electricity usage
an up-to-date meter reading where required
your current contract end date
details of any exit fee
information for each farm electricity meter
solar generation and export information where applicable

Your MPRN identifies the individual electricity connection and can normally be found on your electricity bill.

Will Switching Electricity Supplier Interrupt Farm Electricity Supply?

No. Switching electricity supplier does not normally interrupt the physical electricity supply to the farm.

The electricity continues to be delivered through the electricity network. What changes is the supplier responsible for your electricity account and billing.

What Is An MPRN?

MPRN stands for Meter Point Registration Number.

It uniquely identifies an electricity connection in Ireland and is one of the key details required when switching electricity supplier.

A farm with several separate electricity connections may therefore have several MPRNs.

What Is An MCC?

MCC stands for Meter Configuration Code.

It describes the metering configuration associated with the electricity connection and can help identify how the meter and tariff structure are configured.

This can be relevant when reviewing whether a standard, day/night or other tariff arrangement is suitable for the farm.

Do I Need A Smart Meter To Switch Farm Electricity Supplier?

No. Having a smart meter is not a requirement simply to change electricity supplier.

The tariff options available will depend on your meter configuration and the products offered by suppliers.

Where smart time-of-use tariffs are available, it is important to understand when the farm consumes electricity before deciding whether that type of tariff is suitable.

Can I Switch Multiple Farm Electricity Meters?

Yes. Where a farm has several electricity connections, each meter can be reviewed individually.

This is important because different meters may have very different usage profiles.

For example, one connection may serve:

a milking parlour
farm buildings
a dwelling house
pumps or other equipment
another agricultural enterprise

The best tariff does not necessarily need to be the same for every meter.

Can Farm And Household Electricity Accounts Be Reviewed Separately?

Yes.

If a farm has separate farm and household electricity connections, each account can be assessed based on its own electricity consumption and tariff requirements.

This avoids assuming that one tariff structure will suit both the farm business and the home.

Can Dairy Farms Save Money By Switching Electricity Supplier?

Potentially.

Dairy farms can have high electricity consumption from:

milking equipment
milk cooling
water heating
pumps
lighting
other dairy equipment

Because annual consumption can be significant, relatively small differences in electricity pricing can have a meaningful effect on overall farm costs.

Actual savings depend on the farm's existing tariff and the alternatives available.

Read our Farm Electricity Rates Ireland guide

Are Night-Rate Electricity Tariffs Useful For Farms?

They can be for farms that consume a meaningful amount of electricity during cheaper nighttime or off-peak periods.

Depending on the farm operation, suitable electricity usage could include:

water heating
milk cooling
battery charging
pumping
other loads that can practically be scheduled

However, the night rate should not be assessed on its own.

Day rates, standing charges and the total annual electricity cost also matter.

Learn more about night-rate electricity

Should Farms With Solar PV Review Export Payments?

Yes.

A farm with solar PV should consider both:

the price paid for electricity imported from the grid
the value received for surplus electricity exported to the grid

A supplier offering a higher export payment is not automatically the best overall option if its import rates or standing charges are less competitive.

The correct comparison should consider the farm's complete annual electricity position.

Can Solar Panels Reduce Farm Electricity Costs?

Solar PV can reduce the amount of electricity a farm needs to import from the grid, particularly where electricity is consumed during daylight hours.

The financial benefit depends on factors such as:

farm electricity consumption
solar generation
self-consumption
electricity import rates
export payments
battery storage where applicable

Learn more about solar and battery electricity tariffs

Can Farmers Get Grants For Solar PV?

Grant support may be available for qualifying agricultural solar PV and energy investments.

Scheme availability, grant rates, investment limits and eligibility requirements can change, so farmers should check the latest official Department of Agriculture guidance before making an investment decision.

How Often Should Farmers Review Electricity Tariffs?

It is sensible to review farm electricity tariffs when:

a contract is approaching renewal
a discount period is ending
electricity usage has changed significantly
new farm equipment has been installed
solar PV or battery storage has been added
the farm has expanded

An annual review can also help identify whether the tariff still reflects the farm's current electricity usage.

What Happens If My Farm Electricity Contract Has An Exit Fee?

Check the terms of the existing electricity contract before switching.

An exit fee may reduce or eliminate the financial benefit of changing supplier before the contract ends.

The comparison should therefore consider any applicable exit fee alongside the expected savings from the new tariff.

How Long Does Switching Farm Electricity Supplier Take?

The exact switching timeline can vary depending on the supplier and account circumstances.

Changing supplier does not normally require the physical electricity connection to be changed.

Where a farm has several meters or more complex account arrangements, each connection should be reviewed carefully before the switch is submitted.

What Is Included In A WeSwitchU Farm Electricity Review?

Our farm electricity review can include:

electricity bill analysis
annual electricity usage review
unit-rate comparison
standing-charge comparison
day and night usage assessment
multiple-meter review
solar PV and export-payment review
tariff comparison
estimated annual savings
switching support

We focus on the overall value of the electricity arrangement rather than simply choosing the lowest advertised unit rate.

Get a FREE Farm Electricity Review

Related Farm Energy Resources

Farm Electricity Switching FAQs

Will switching electricity supplier interrupt my electricity supply?

No. The electricity supply normally continues without interruption while the billing account moves to the new supplier.

What information do I need to switch farm electricity supplier?

You will usually need details from a recent electricity bill, including the MPRN, current tariff and electricity usage. An up-to-date meter reading may also be required.

Can I switch several farm electricity meters?

Yes. Separate electricity connections can be reviewed individually and may require different tariffs depending on their usage patterns.

Do I need a smart meter to switch?

No. A smart meter is not required simply to change electricity supplier.

Are night-rate tariffs good for dairy farms?

They can be where enough electricity consumption occurs during cheaper periods. The complete tariff and annual usage profile should be assessed before switching.

Should farms with solar PV compare export payments?

Yes. The value of exported electricity should be considered alongside electricity import rates and standing charges.

How often should farm electricity tariffs be reviewed?

Review the tariff when contracts or discounts end and when farm electricity consumption changes significantly.

Can WeSwitchU manage the switching process?

Yes. Where a suitable alternative is identified and the farmer chooses to proceed, WeSwitchU can help manage the electricity switching process.

Farm Electricity Switching – Frequently Asked Questions