30-Second Overview
If your business is in an expensive electricity contract, it is possible to break that contract, but there are usually penalties. These penalties are substantial for commercial energy contracts. In some cases, it is still worthwhile paying the contract breakage penalty and walking away. However, it is key to compare the potential savings against the contract breakage penalties before acting. There are three steps to understanding if you should break your business electricity or gas contract:
- Determine your contract breakage fee (also called early exit fee).
- Shop around for the best deal.
- Complete the switch to a cheaper contract.
⚡ Our energy experts can tell you instantly if you should break your energy contract. Just upload a recent electricity bill using the link below. Our energy experts will analyse it for free and let you know if you have a net saving or cost by breaking your contract. No obligation for you, just saving insights 👇
How to Check Your Business Electricity or Gas Contract Breakage Fee
The first step to checking if you will have a contract breakage fee is to find out your current electricity or gas contract end date. This can be obtained by phoning your energy supplier directly, or it can be found on your recent energy bill. As of June 2023, all Irish suppliers must include contract end dates on their bills.
Don't assume that you are not in a contract if you have not spoken with your supplier in a few years. Some energy suppliers auto-renew thier customers into new 12-month contracts when thier old contract expires. While the practice is questionable as the auto-renewal rates are never the cheapest available, the suppliers who do it claim that the auto-renewal rates are cheaper than out-of-contract variable rates. However, you would save if you had a commercial energy broker like Utilityfair monitoring your contract end date and comparing the cheapest options every year.
Different energy suppliers calculate contract breakage fees in different ways. Some providers have a flat commercial breakage fee, and other suppliers apply a formula where the breakage fee is dependent on your monthly unit usage and the number of months remaining on your contract.
If your current energy unit price is high, it can make financial sense to pay to break a commercial energy contract, as the savings on a new contract may be higher than the breakage cost of your existing energy contract.
We work with all energy suppliers in Ireland and are familiar with their contract breakage penalties. To learn more about your supplier’s exit fees, speak with one of Utilityfair’s energy experts.
How to Shop Around for the Best Business Energy Deals
If you are considering changing energy suppliers or you have already contacted your supplier and terminated your contract, it’s time to look into the cheaper alternatives. You should check all supplier options, but the task is time-consuming.
Why use an Energy Broker?
Using an independent energy broker like Utilityfair is the quickest way to secure the best business electricity and gas deals in the market. Comparing prices is completely free, and you will have the benefit of being advised by an expert who knows the ins and outs of the various supplier price plans and charges. However, all energy brokers are not equal. Make sure that you pick a good one that has plenty of verified third-party reviews. Utilityfair is Ireland's largest and most reviewed commercial energy broker with thousands of verified five-star customer reviews on Trustpilot.
Utilityfair will provide you with a completely free price comparison, showing pricing from all energy suppliers in Ireland. If you choose to switch to a cheaper price plan either with a new supplier or your existing supplier, we will also handle the whole process for you hassle-free - saving you time and money. We cut out the work for you, so that you can concentrate on running your business.
Complete The Switch to a Cheaper Business Electricity or Gas Deal
Once you have selected your preferred supplier and contract duration, making the move official is all that you need to do. It is worth noting that a change in supplier can take up to two weeks to register with ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland. However, the switch will be made using the meter readings provided at the time of processing, which means that your usage is at the cheaper new rates straight away.
Practical Steps to Assess If Breaking Your Energy Contract Makes Sense
- Locate contract terms: Check the current contract end date, exit fees, and notice requirements.
- Compare current market rates: Crunch the numbers and calculate if the short-term penalty is less than long-term savings.
- Review your contract renewal timeline: Many suppliers notify you well before rollover begins - stay alert.
- Submit meter readings: Avoid inaccurate final bills by providing a closing reading to your current supplier.
- Explore relocation scenarios: Moving premises may offer a valid reason to end or reset your contract without penalty.
How Utilityfair Can Help You Save on Energy Costs
Utilityfair is Ireland's largest and most reviewed commercial energy broker, with decades of experience. You can run all of the calculations yourself, or you could save a lot of time and get quick answers by speaking to one of our energy experts - and it's completely free. We work with all suppliers in Ireland, we know their contract clauses and already have their latest prices loaded into our pricing models. We make switching to a cheaper electricity and gas contract easy by:
- Comparing all energy suppliers to find the best available rates tailored to your usage.
- Once you have chosen your preferred option, we instruct suppliers to move you to better rates, saving you time and hassle.
- Monitoring your new contract end date to make sure that you never roll into expensive variable rates.
- In a nutshell, we simplify energy contract management, so you can focus on running your business.
👉 Get Started Today!
Fill out our enquiry form, click the link below or call 01 547 0999 to speak with a Utilityfair energy expert and start saving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. Businesses can break commercial electricity or gas contracts, but early exit fees usually apply. Whether it makes financial sense depends on your current unit rates, the remaining contract duration, and the penalties charged by your supplier.
Your electricity and gas contract breakage fee can be found by:
• Checking the contract end date on your most recent bill (mandatory since June 2023)
• Contacting your supplier directly
• Reviewing your original contract documentation
Contract exit fees vary by supplier: some charge a flat fee, while others use a formula based on remaining months and expected energy usage.
Yes, sometimes. If your current electricity or gas unit rate is significantly above market rates, the savings from a new contract may outweigh the cost of breaking the existing one. A bill analysis is the quickest way to determine your net benefit.
Suppliers typically use one of two methods:
• Fixed breakage fee (flat charge for ending early)
• Usage-based formula based on (i) your monthly consumption and (ii) remaining months on contract.
Yes. Some suppliers automatically renew customers into new 12-month contracts when the old contract expires. It can be done by way of an auto-renewal letter or may be buried in the initial contract terms. These auto-renewal rates are rarely the cheapest available. Monitoring your contract end date prevents expensive rollovers.
If a rollover has occurred, you may still be able to switch to a cheaper price plan, but breakage fees may apply. It’s important to compare the potential savings from switching against the penalty cost.
In most cases, moving premises may allow you to terminate or renegotiate your energy contract without penalty. Talk to our energy experts - we know how to do it to avoid contact breakage fees.
Switching typically takes up to 14 days for ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to register the change. However, the meter reading provided is used, which means that your usage is charged at the new rates immediately.
You should do the following before breaking an electricity or gas contract:
• Confirm your contract end date
• Calculate your contract exit fee
• Compare current market rates
• Assess the net financial benefit of switching
• Provide accurate meter readings to avoid incorrect final bills
An energy broker cannot remove contract exit fees, but they can:
• Determine if switching still results in a net saving
• Negotiate a better renewal rate with your existing supplier
• Identify alternatives that make the switch worthwhile
No. Switching suppliers or ending a contract early does not affect your electricity or gas supply. ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland continue delivering energy regardless of which supplier you choose.
Yes. Utilityfair analyses your energy bill for free and tells you whether breaking your contract results in a net saving or a net cost. You can simply upload a recent energy bill or phone us on 01 5470999. We can give you instant answers.
You do not have to, but a reputable commercial energy broker and make the process a lot easier for you by:
• Comparing all suppliers
• Calculating contract breakage fees vs. savings
• Handling the entire switching process
• Preventing future rollovers into expensive rates
Utilityfair is Ireland’s largest and most reviewed commercial energy broker with thousands of verified 5-star reviews.
