ELECTRIC IRELAND LOST more than 100,000 customers last year, while prepay services and small providers saw gains in the electricity market.
The Commission for Energy Regulation’s most recent report shows the number of people switching their electricity up slightly from last year at 266,226.
PrePay Power broke above 1 per cent of the total electricity usage in Ireland for the first time in June 2013. Over 25,000 customers switched to similar smaller suppliers.
Bord Gáis Energy lost more than 32,000 customers, while Energie and Airtricity saw small gains of between 3,000 and 4,000.
While Electric Ireland’s losses were the highest, they are down significantly from the 2010 figure of more than 300,000.
Electricity net switching by supplier January 2010 to December 2013. Click here to view a larger version. (Image: CER)
Bord Gáis Energy saw heavy losses in the gas market as well, losing 56,061 customers.
Just over 117,000 switched their gas supplied in 2013, the highest level since 2010.
Electric Ireland gained 52,659, while Energia and Airtricity saw little or no gain in 2013.
However, Flogas saw their growth slow after a strong performance in recent years, although still gained just over 1,500 customers.
**First posted on The Journal in January.