Setting up utilities and broadband
ESB, Bord Gáis, Electric Ireland, Eir, Virgin Media, Vodafone — who to pick and how to switch later for savings.
When you move into an Irish rental, electricity, gas and broadband are usually set up (or transferred) in your own name, and the single most useful thing to know is that switching suppliers via an accredited comparison site routinely saves hundreds of euro a year versus staying on a default tariff. The CCPC accredits comparison sites — bonkers.ie and switcher.ie are the widely used ones.
How do I set up electricity and gas? Find the MPRN (electricity meter number) and GPRN (gas meter number) on a previous bill or from the landlord, take a meter reading the day you move in, and sign up with any supplier — Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, SSE Airtricity, Energia, Flogas and others all serve the same wires and pipes; only the price and service differ. New customers usually get a discounted first year; diarise the anniversary and switch or renegotiate, because discounts lapse onto standard rates.
Do I need proof of address or an Irish bank account? Suppliers generally want a billing address and a payment method; direct debit from an Irish or SEPA account gets the best tariffs. Your first utility bill then becomes your proof of address for everything else — a small chicken-and-egg reason to set utilities up promptly.
What about broadband? Coverage varies street by street: eir, Vodafone, Digiweb and Sky sell over the open fibre/DSL network, Virgin Media over cable, and 4G/5G home broadband (Three, Vodafone) is a fast-setup option where fixed lines are slow to install. Check what actually reaches your address on the comparison sites rather than assuming.
Is there a TV licence? Yes — a television set at an address requires a TV licence, currently paid annually through An Post. Check the current fee and rules on gov.ie.
Renters' note: bills in your name build your Irish paper trail; keep PDFs of everything.
What does "prepay registered" mean on a rental listing? It means the property has a prepay (pay-as-you-go) electricity or gas meter installed: you top up credit in an app or at a shop before you use energy, instead of receiving bills. Upsides — no deposits, no bills in arrears, easy budgeting. Downsides — unit rates and standing charges on prepay tariffs are typically higher than the best credit-meter deals, and if the credit runs out the supply stops until you top up. Changing a prepay meter back to a standard credit meter is possible via the supplier but usually needs the landlord's consent, since it is their meter.
What does a gas meter installation cost? If the property already has a meter, there is nothing to install — you just register the GPRN with a supplier. A brand-new gas connection (no meter on site) is handled by Gas Networks Ireland, which quotes a connection fee based on distance to the main; check current fees on gasnetworks.ie before assuming, as quotes vary widely by property.
Where do I find the MPRN and GPRN if there is no old bill? The MPRN (11-digit electricity number) can be looked up from ESB Networks by address, and the GPRN from Gas Networks Ireland — both have online forms and phone lines for exactly this new-tenant situation. The landlord or letting agent usually has both on file too.
Last updated: September 2026. Sources: ccpc.ie (accredited comparison sites), bonkers.ie, switcher.ie, esbnetworks.ie (MPRN), gasnetworks.ie (GPRN, connections), gov.ie (TV licence).