Purchase of Energy

Competition Explained

All electricity customers are now able to move from ESB to other licensed electricity suppliers.

The market was initially opened to competition in 2000, when the 400 largest customers of electricity were free to choose their electricity supplier. In February 2002, an additional 1,200 customers became eligible to choose their supplier. In 2004, futher market opening meant that 56% of the market, comprising an additional 12,000 industrial and commercial customers, was opened to competition. This was followed by full market opening in February of 2005, well in advance of the European Union deadline of 2007 for all Member States.