Smart Meters are taking over the dominant type of electricity meter in Ireland, replacing legacy meters to provide a more accurate picture of electricity usage and help households save money on their bills.

The key takeaways:
  • Receive accurate electricity bills, no more estimated bills due to a lack of meter data.
  • Gain access to smart tariffs with time-of-use rates for greater electricity savings.
  • Smart Meter data can help you understand and improve electricity usage patterns.

What is a Smart Meter?

A smart meter is a digital electricity meter that replaces your older 24hr or Day/Night meter. They are currently in the late stages of being rolled out across Ireland.

An ESB smart meter has a number of features that make it more advanced than older meters.

  • Real-Time Measurements: The meter records your electricity imports and exports in kWh, and the time at which this occurred.

  • Smart Communications: A smart meter, when installed, will send accurate data to your electricity company on a regular basis.

ESB Networks installing smart meters to homes across Ireland

How much can you save with a smart meter?

By switching to the best available smart tariff for your electricity, you could save anywhere from €400 to €900 compared with standard plans on older 24hr or Nightsaver meters.

That said, you have to be careful with your electricity habits with a smart tariff, or it could end up being more expensive. This is especially true if you use a great deal of electricity during peak hours.

Benefits of a Smart Meter

The smart meter’s ability to tell what time of the day you are using electricity opens up a wide range of smart tariffs. You can enjoy electricity with time-of-use pricing, EV charging rates, or discounted weekends to suit your needs.

Whenever the electricity company estimates your bill, the figure they come up with is always greater than reality. Smart meters’ communication technology communicates accurate usage regularly, removing any estimation from electricity bills.

Since a smart meter sends its data directly to the electricity supplier, you don’t have to go out and do any more meter readings to avoid estimated bills or hope that the company will send someone to do it themselves in time.

The digital display on a smart meter makes your reading easy to see and understand. No more trying to figure out small figures on a dial.

By downloading your smart meter data from the ESB, you can see exactly how much electricity you are using at what time of day. This insight can help you change your habits in order to save money.

In addition to monitoring energy usage, the data provided by smart meters also allows the ESB to find and repair faults more quickly.

Having a smart meter installed allows homes with solar panels to get paid for the electricity they sell back to the grid.

How to Get a Smart Meter

The ESB is responsible for rolling out smart meters across Ireland, with more than 2 million installed to date. If you do not have a smart meter installed yet, you can simply wait for the ESB to get around to you.

However, if you wish to switch to a smart tariff and need a meter installed for this, you can also request one from the ESB with the Smart Meter Sign Up Form.

How to Read a Smart Meter

Reading a smart meter is very simple, with the digital display showing you the cumulative amount of electricity used. By using the buttons on the meter, you can change the display to access your electricity usage in the Day, Night, and Peak hours. Find out more on how to read your smart meter here.

For a more detailed breakdown of your electricity usage, you can download the information collected by your smart meter from the ESB.

Smart Meters Standing Charge

Electricity Plans for Smart Meters

Having a smart electricity meter installed allows you to avail of “smart” tariffs, which are not available to households with older day or night meters. All of Ireland’s electricity providers offer smart electricity plans, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

Smart tariffs are typically characterised by their different “time of use” rates for different periods in the day or week.

  • Day/Night/Peak: These standard smart tariffs are characterised by having a day rate, a more expensive peak rate during the day from 5pm – 7pm, and a less expensive night rate.

  • EV/Night Boost: These plans’ defining characteristic is having a highly discounted electricity rate for some period between 2am and 6am. Outside of this, they may have a single rate for all other hours, day & night rates, or day/night/peak rates.

  • Weekend Discount: Weekend discount plans have discounted electricity rates for a period between Friday evening and Monday morning, varying based on the electricity provider.

  • Free Sat/Sun: These offer completely free electricity for a period of time during either Saturdays or Sundays. Rates for other times may vary between providers.

Switching to a smart electricity plan can give you greater control over your electricity bills by allowing you to take advantage of cheaper rates at specific times. Small adjustments to your habits, when and how you use power, can deliver big savings.

Standard Plans with a Smart Meter

Some smart tariffs also offer a single rate throughout the day, or separate rates for Day & Night, the same as older meters. The only real difference you will experience is the added electricity insight into when you are using power.

Smart Meters and Solar Power

A smart meter is essential for homeowners with solar panels installed, since you need one in order to accurately measure how much electricity is exported from your home to the grid.

When solar panels are producing more electricity than is being used in the home at the time, the excess is sent back to the grid. Homeowners can greatly benefit from this, as they get paid for selling surplus electricity with a feed-in tariff set by their electricity provider.

A smart meter is essential for this process, as it provides accurate, up to date information on exactly how much power is being sent to the grid. This allows you to be paid the right amount for your solar energy.

FAQs

You do not have to change to a smart electricity plan if you get a smart meter, and you can keep your existing plan. However, once you switch to a smart tariff, you cannot switch back to a legacy plan.

There is no cost to the homeowner to get a smart meter installed. This is true even if you request a smart meter rather than waiting for the rollout.

A smart meter is a compact white plastic box that looks largely similar to older electricity meters. It is distinguished by a digital display screen and may feature buttons or a keypad.

Your smart meter will likely be installed wherever the previous meter was placed. In most houses, this is in a box on the outside of the building. It may also be in an area such as a cupboard, garage, or next to the fusebox.

ESN technicians are installing smart meters around the country. You will receive several weeks’ notice in advance of their arrival. If your electricity meter is outside, the installation can be done even if you are not at home. If it is inside, they will arrange a time when you can receive them.

Installing a smart doesn’t take long, but the ESB technician will have to turn off power to your home for approximately 45 minutes during the process.

Standard electricity hours are fixed for smart meters and do not change between winter & summer. Day rates are from 8am – 11pm, except for peak hours from 5pm – 7pm, and night hours are from 11pm – 8am.

Other weekend or EV charging hours are set by the the electricity provider and will vary from one to another.

You can download all of the data gathered by your smart meter by creating an online account with the ESB. From there you can access detailed information about your electricity usage and exports.

Smart meters will send data to the ESB every 30 minutes, but this may not become available to view online for 36 – 48 hours.

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