The energy regulator has published proposals to change the way Bord Gáis's gas bills are calculated.
The Commission for Energy Regulation says the new tariff structures will be simpler and more user-friendly for the company's 550,000 residential and 20,000 business customers.
There will be five options for residential customers, which offer a mix of fixed and variable charges. One option allows customers to 'smooth out' the cost over a year by imposing a higher fixed charge which will take into account extra usage during winter.
Another tariff will be applied to customers with a large consumption of gas.
The regulator said the new tariffs do not address the overall price of gas. The CER is to make a proposal on this in August, but has said prices for next year are expected to be lower than in the current year.
