Northern Ireland electricity guide
NIE Networks vs Your Supplier: Who Does What?
Published on 4 June 2026 by Wee Switch NI Team. Last reviewed 4 June 2026.
A quick guide to the difference between the network operator and the company that sends your electricity bill.
In Northern Ireland, the company that maintains the electricity network is not the same as the company that sells you electricity. Knowing the difference saves time when something goes wrong.
NIE Networks owns and maintains the wires, substations and equipment that deliver electricity to homes and businesses. It handles network faults, new connections and supply point information.
Your supplier sets tariffs, sends bills, handles payments and manages your customer account. Current domestic supplier examples include Power NI, SSE Airtricity, Budget Energy, Click Energy and Share Energy.
Switching supplier does not change the wires coming into your home. It changes who sells you the electricity and bills your account.
NIE Networks
Your electricity supplier
Who to contact
How this guide is reviewed
This guide is reviewed for Northern Ireland relevance, current supplier status, and tariff-sensitive claims. Tariff figures should be checked against the latest Consumer Council NI source before publication.