The game is afoot

Over the last four years, the energy supply markets have been subject to change on a variety of fronts. Looking specifically at the small business market, Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) data shows that overall electricity consumption in this sector has risen, up almost 3% over the four-year period to Q3 2018.

This week’s blog takes a look at the competition in the electricity supply market.

Related thinking

Regulation and policy

Getting RESStless: ECP-2 proposed decision

The process of applying for grid connections in Ireland has changed under the ECP process, allowing policymakers to prioritise certain projects. The first stage, ECP-1 occurred in 2018 and now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) have published the Enduring Connection Policy Stage 2, or ECP-2 proposed decision. This week...

Home supply and services

NI electricity prices are rising – All you knead to know

Last week two of the largest electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity, announced they are raising electricity prices for domestic customers by 8% and 6.9% respectively from 01 October 2019. These increases come days after the announcement from Northern Ireland’s largest supplier, Power NI, that they...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | Is ESB’s market dominance still a concern?

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It doesn’t take too long venturing into the Irish energy sector before one encounters this company. Founded in 1927, the former monopoly provider was responsible for rural electrification in 1946. ESB group companies own the network and participate in generation and supply markets. In the...

Home supply and services

The end of the beginning: Domestic market share

With switching rates relatively low (3% for electricity in Q318) and incumbent players still comfortably dominating the markets, you could be forgiven for thinking little is set to change in the Irish domestic supply markets. But we believe a closer look at the regulator’s latest market share figures, with an...

Home supply and services

Domestic electricity switching – More than Meets the Eye?

Avid readers of Cornwall Insight Ireland’s blog will have seen last week our analysis on how switching rates could be impacted by new house registrations. In this week’s blog, we expand on this theme to look at other potential factors influencing electricity switching, namely how the price of tariffs offered...

Home supply and services

We built this city: new registrations, a segment emerges

Valentine’s Day saw the publication of the Irish quarterly retail market report by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which noted 11 price increases over the course of 2018. It is an opportune time to consider a potential source of future competition: new residential dwellings. This week’s blog looks...

Energy storage and flexibility

Local hero: constraints and security of supply

Security of supply is back on the agenda. Last week saw the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) publish its Electricity Security of Supply Report 2018. Replicating the analysis from the long-awaited All-Island Generation Capacity Statement 2018-2027 (GCS), it showed Ireland facing potential deficits within the next 6-9 years. The very same...

Low carbon generation

Relight my fire: liquidity in the Irish PPA market

Previously we explored how the Irish Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market is evolving in response to the I-SEM. We have extensively researched this market to understand PPA pricing, competition and contract structuring. This culminated in the release of our inaugural Irish PPA market report in July. However, overall market share...