Energising a greener, fairer future
Catherine Lonergan, Director of Customer and Commercial at Bord Gáis Energy, talks to Ciaran Brennan about what the company is doing to support customers through the green transition, the uptake of smart technology, and the impact of the war in the Middle East on the energy sector.
Catherine Lonergan has worked to deliver data-driven solutions to enhance customer engagement and accelerate the shift to sustainable energy since taking over as Director of Customer and Commercial at Bord Gáis Energy in 2024. She outlines how the company provides value and choice for customers in their journey to net zero.
“A young family in a semi-detached home will take a very different path to a family farm or a small business and our role is to meet each of them where they are,” says the director.
She says that achieving net zero and delivering value for customers go hand-in-hand. Stating that the transition may be different for homes, business, or farms, she adds that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.
“Our customers, and their needs, are at the heart of all we do. Customer insight and research inform all our key product and service design processes,” the director explains.
“For example, we see many customers wanting to act but unsure whether to start small or go all-in, which is why our solutions flex from simple insulation upgrades to full retrofit journeys. Data analytics inform what customer solutions we need to focus on.”
While large-scale upgrades are critical, she acknowledges that small behavioural changes still have a role to play, particularly at a time when cost-of-living challenges persist.
“Our customers, and their needs, are at the heart of all we do. Customer insight and research inform all our key product and service design processes.”
“When energy bills feel unpredictable, even small actions can restore a sense of control,” she says.
“For customers who feel overwhelmed by choice, our one-stop shop removes the complexity, from assessment to installation, with Bord Gáis Energy managing the journey end-to-end.
“We design solutions based on customers’ needs and assess what measures they need to take the next step on their journey to net zero. This can include single or multiple measures, which we manage from end-to-end for our customers.”
The company also provides technology that aims to put customers in control, from smart meters and smart tariffs to solar panels, EV chargers, heat pumps, and smart heating controls.
The Bord Gáis Energy director explains that the company’s new ‘Know your Power’ campaign reflects a shift from passive consumption to informed, confident, and empowered decisions.
“Affordability remains the decisive factor for many households. Our customers want sustainability, but they will not do it at any cost; price-sensitivity is the overriding concern,” she says.
Bord Gáis Energy also assists customers through the grant process. The company manages the project through the delivery stage and continues engaging with customers once the relevant measures are in place.
Additionally, the Bord Gáis Energy director says that customers are not prepared to pay more for renewable energy despite its key role in the energy transition. She continues: “Many people see it as our responsibility as an energy company.”
That expectation informed a significant decision. “We invested to provide all our customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity this year so the choice is already made for them. Again, that brings everybody on the same journey.”
Green transition
When illustrating how Bord Gáis Energy is setting itself up to lead the green transition, she says: “We were established in 1976 when the challenge was to bring a cleaner fuel to Ireland. Today, the challenge is much bigger; moving the entire energy system toward renewable, low-carbon solutions.”
As part of Centrica, Bord Gáis Energy has committed €1 billion to Ireland’s energy transition spanning energy infrastructure delivery, renewable generation, and customer-led electrification.
“We made the decision to move all of our electricity customers to 100 per cent renewable electricity, and we are expanding access to the technologies that give customers real control over how they use energy.”
Lonergan says: “Our purpose is energising a greener, fairer future. We are fundamentally repurposing the business to lead that transition, with a commitment to be net zero by 2040 and to support our customers on their own journey to be net zero by 2050.”
Solar energy is playing a powerful role in this shift. Following its acquisition of Swyft Energy, Bord Gáis Energy is targeting more than 12,000 solar installations across homes and farms by 2029.
“Our collaboration with the Irish Farmers’ Association is a strong example of innovation that enables us to bring tailored solar installations to farms nationwide,” she explains.
Barriers to change
Despite progress, Lonergan acknowledges that barriers remain. Ireland is currently facing a critical shortage of skilled workers across multiple sectors, which is a major barrier for the national energy transition and achieving 2030 climate targets.
She says it is widely accepted that the lack of specialised personnel in planning, engineering, and construction is delaying key infrastructure projects. She continues: “In terms of domestic upgrades, engineers, installers, electricians, plumbers, energy assessors, and retrofit specialists are also in short supply.
“Taken together, capacity constraints, regional pressures, and delays risk slowing delivery and weakening confidence among businesses and communities but also among households.”
A total of 23,000 new entrants is needed to support Ireland’s retrofit targets, representing an approximately six-fold increase compared to 2019 levels. To address this, she says: “STEM education, apprenticeships, and vocational pathways must play a bigger role, alongside improving gender representation in technical roles.
“Bord Gáis Energy is investing in workforce capacity and partnerships, and we are approaching the one-stop shop with the governance and quality systems needed to scale responsibly.”
She continues: “We are upskilling existing engineers, delivering in-house training capability for technologies like heat pumps, investing in apprenticeships, and building a pipeline of future skills for smart energy solutions.
“At the end of 2025, we added seven new apprentices bringing us to a total of 23, three of which are female. We have a target to have a representation of 30 per cent female apprentices by 2030.”
Market conditions
Lonergan is speaking at a time of renewed global uncertainty as the conflict in the Middle East impacts energy markets. “What is happening geopolitically is not within our control,” she says.
“Shocks to energy prices are unavoidable, but Bord Gáis Energy seeks to provide stability for customers through forward hedging. We hedge as far as we can to smooth price volatility and protect customers where possible.”
Longer term, global instability can affect infrastructure and supply chains, she says, adding: “That ultimately feeds through to the cost of energy. That is why security of supply and a diverse energy mix remain essential.”
She adds that flexible gas generation plays a role during the transition, “supporting the system when wind and solar output is low”.
50 years in business
Bord Gáis Energy is marking 50 years in business in 2026. Lonergan points out that the company will celebrate its 50th on 19 July 2026, the same day as the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship which Bord Gáis Energy sponsors.
“We are immensely proud to have been here for 50 years to see how much the country and the company have changed in that time. It is also reassuring for our 715,000 customers that we have been here that long and that we are here for the future.
“It is important to celebrate what we have done in terms of investing in Ireland and its future. It is also important to look to the future to ensure that, in 50 years’ time, we are celebrating more achievements such as the journey to net zero.
“We want to be part of Ireland’s future. We want to deliver security of supply, to modernise infrastructure and continue to evolve as an energy partner for our customers.”
Concluding, she outlines her excitement at the multiple new methods to share, generate, and export energy being developed and their possible impact on customers: “The journey to net zero will not look the same for everyone but with the right insight, the right support, and the right choices, it becomes achievable step-by-step.”
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Catherine Lonergan
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