Working remotely is becoming the new normal for many of us. What was a temporary measure due to the pandemic is now permanently changing the way we work. Working from home brings many challenges: lack of space, poor broadband and the mental challenges of confinement. There are also many implications for householders and for household bills. Your energy, telephone and broadband usage might be... Read more

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently said that the Euro could be available to European consumers as a digital currency in as little as four years. As a digital currency, your Euros would exist as legal tender on your smartphone without the need for a bank account. Essentially, the consumer has a direct relationship with the ECB as the issuer and guarantor of ... Read more

In 2000 the Electronic Signature Bill was signed into law in Ireland giving e-signatures equal status to ink signatures on paper. Many will remember when Bill Clinton and Bertie Ahern electronically signed an agreement using the new legislation. So, why is it that a significant number of interactions Irish consumers have with Government services and with private sector suppliers still requir... Read more

Recently I was asked to Chair a Government taskforce on SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). Running a household can sometimes feel like running a small business and some of the conclusions and actions items coming from the taskforce are very relevant to householders. Plus, many One Big Switch members are sole traders or small business owners so the Report published here  might be of relevance ... Read more

In December 2018 the Right Honourable Priti Patel, now the UK Home Secretary, announced she would be in favour of interrupting food supplies to Ireland if we did not toe the line to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Now, having done our very best to help get a deal in place, it looks like Minister Patel is still getting her way with a swath of interruptions and shortages affecting the Irish consumer. ... Read more

MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2019   2 in 3 IRISH HOUSEHOLDS SUFFERING FROM ENERGY FUEL POVERTY   A survey of 1,500 Irish households has found that 2 in 3 are suffering from energy ‘fuel poverty’. Fuel poverty is universally defined as a household spending over 10% of its income on energy costs.   Exclusive of taxes, Ireland has the second highest electricity prices in the EU[1]. T... Read more

**PRESS RELEASE**  IRISH CONSUMERS PROVE TOO APATHETIC WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING ON HOME ENERGY BILLS Apathy to change is the major reason Irish households aren’t switching their electricity and gas suppliers.   A poll of the first 6,000 households to join the Big Energy Switch campaign reveals that: 42% of those who haven’t switched ‘Didn’t thi... Read more

The Big Energy Switch survey has continued to uncover some alarming facts, about what Irish consumers are sacrificing in fear of huge energy bills.   A poll of the first 5,000 households to join the Big Energy Switch campaign revealed:   3 in 4 Irish consumers are making lifestyle sacrifices to afford their energy bills, and Of that group, more than 50% are ... Read more

  Yesterday we released more findings from our Big Energy Switch, which has shown that out of 4,000 members who took the survey more than 3 out of every 5 households are suffering from fuel poverty.      The response to these findings has been huge, with our Senior Campaigner David Liston talking to national and local media throughout the day about the findings. ... Read more

An interesting report on the switching habits of Irish consumers was released earlier this month.  Commissioned by permanent tsb and taken from a sample of 1001 people, the report shows that although switching is considered to be quite easy, many people are still not willing to take the time out to  do it. The report claims that consumers could be missing […]

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