What You Need to Know About Gassing Up in Ireland

Subsequently a fair few delays and false starts, ESB Networks began rolling out smart electricity meters in belatedly 2019 under the direction of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) - Republic of ireland'southward independent energy regulator.

The plan is to have every premise in Ireland upgraded to a new electricity meter by 2024.

And with the rollout of smart meters comes the launch of smart electricity tariffs.

So, what exactly is a smart meter, what'due south a smart tariff and how is information technology going to bear upon households?

Here's everything you need to know.

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters are the "side by side generation" of electricity meter, according to the CRU.

Unlike older meters, smart meters can communicate directly with your energy supplier and transport them existent-time information about your free energy usage.

Data will unremarkably exist sent over to your supplier once a day around midnight. However, you'll take the option to provide data on your consumption to your supplier every xxx-minutes if yous desire, allowing for more valuable insights into your energy usage.

How does a smart meter piece of work?

A smart meter has a small transmitter and antenna, similar to what you would find in a mobile phone, and uses mobile phone technology, specifically the older and widely bachelor 2G system, to send data on your energy usage to your supplier.

What are the benefits of smart meters?

1. Reduced free energy consumption

Smart meters will allow you to see exactly how much energy you're using in existent time via an in-dwelling house display unit, smartphone or tablet. T his means you'll accept style more than information and insight into your free energy usage throughout the twenty-four hours, which should assistance you to reduce your consumption.

2. Lower carbon footprint

Using less energy ways you'll exist lowering your carbon footprint and doing your flake to help Mother Nature.

iii. No more estimated bills

As smart meters tin communicate in existent time, they will also reduce the need for estimated bills, significant ESB Networks won't have to come visit your home to take a meter reading four times a yr. Instead each bill you go volition be based on accurate, upwardly-to-date energy usage - meaning yous'll only ever pay for what yous've used going forward. Nice!

Call back that if you haven't had a meter reading in a while, it's important to submit one regularly yourself. The pandemic has meant it's more difficult for ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to come up to take their ain readings, which they usually endeavor to do four times a year.

4. Better information on your energy bills

Your monthly or bi-monthly electricity bills volition likewise go 'smart' too.

Your bills volition be able to provide you with lots of invaluable information on your energy consumption, year-on-year comparisons of your free energy usage, helpful graphs, also equally hints and tips to help you manage your energy better.

5. Better  customer service

The new smart meters volition likewise allow ESB Networks to discover and fix faults quicker. They will besides enable you to switch electricity supplier and move premises more easily.

6. More options for prepay  customers

If you're a prepay electricity customer, in that location are particular benefits for you lot.

Your energy supplier may be able to offer yous new and more flexible ways of topping up your meter that mean you don't have to visit a shop. You lot'll too exist able to see your rest on your in-home brandish unit, and so you won't unknowingly run out of credit, and in the futurity you should be able to ready your meter to automatically summit up, so you won't be left without power if you run out of credit at night or when the shops are shut.

seven. More tariff options

Smart meters will give you a ccess to a wider range of tariffs and services, which wasn't possible with the older meters, some of which could save you money (see more on this below).

Will my smart meter help me save money?

Back in 2009, around 8,000 smart meters were installed around Ireland as part of a trial to test their effectiveness.

The results showed that households were able to reduce their consumption by up to 3% on average, but in some cases reductions of as much as 8.eight% were recorded during peak times.

So, if the trial is annihilation to get past, you should be able to salvage money with a smart meter and the CRU says that all households should be able to relieve nigh €twenty to €30 a twelvemonth through reducing their energy consumption alone.

However the existent savings will come up with the launch of smart tariffs or 'time-of-utilize' tariffs.

Smart tariffs

To coincide with the rollout of smart meters, smart tariffs or so-called 'time-of-use' tariffs are being rolled out past some of the main electricity suppliers, which could assist households save even more money on their bills.

At the moment free energy suppliers normally charge you the aforementioned price for your electricity throughout the twenty-four hours (although those with a night saver meter will exist charged a dissever nighttime fourth dimension rate).

Still, with the rollout of smart meters, energy suppliers are now able to offer consumers electricity deals with multiple different tariffs to encourage yous to move your energy usage to times when electricity is cheaper to produce.

For example these tariffs might charge you a premium price for the energy you employ at superlative times and a lower rate for electricity consumed at off-summit times. And a third, much lower rate could be used for night time consumption when electricity demand is usually at its lowest. A fourth rate could be charged for energy used over weekends and banking company holidays. Special tariffs for those with electric vehicles can also exist offered.

And as renewable energy like solar and wind continues to make upward an always greater part of our electricity generation, yous could even be charged a lower price for your electricity on sunny or windy days, when energy supply is in affluence and inexpensive to produce.

In other words, the toll you're charged for your electricity going forrad will more than accurately reverberate the actual cost of generating it at any given fourth dimension. And since you'll be able to monitor your consumption yourself in real-time, it'll be much easier to move your usage to off-peak times to take advantage of the lower prices.

Although smart tariffs are nevertheless in their infancy, over the coming years wait lots of different tariffs and charging structures to become available, helping energy customers to choose a tariff that's best tailored to their energy needs and usage habits.

Can I sign up to a smart tariff if I don't have a smart meter?

Unfortunately not. If you want to avail of the benefits of a smart meter tariff or time-of-utilise tariff so you must take a smart meter installed.

When can I sign upward to a smart electricity tariff?

Smart tariffs are at present existence rolled out by all the main suppliers with Electric Ireland and Bord Gáis Free energy recently launching a range of smart tariffs.

Both suppliers' plans offer the lure of gratis electricity at certain times over the weekend while Electric Republic of ireland offers a super cheap charge per unit of only over 5c per kWh from 2-4 a.m. each morning time when customers can charge their electric vehicles on the cheap.

However, as mentioned in a higher place, yous'll need to have a smart meter installed first before you can sign up to a smart tariff.

Is there a price for getting a smart meter?

There'll exist no upfront costs to households.

However, according to the CRU, replacing every premise in the country with a new smart meter volition cost over one billion euro.

Like other free energy infrastructure projects, the price for upgrading meters will exist recouped over time through the charges paid by suppliers, and in plough customers, for the utilize of the electricity network.

All the same, the CRU says it has done extensive analysis of the plan and is happy that the investment represents adept value for money when you take into business relationship all the longer-term savings.

What are the timelines for the rollout?

The rollout of smart meters began in counties Cork, Laois and Kildare in late 2019 and expanded to parts of Dublin and Meath at the get-go of 2020.

It will continue on a phased basis until 2024 by which time every home, farm and concern in Ireland should have a new smart electricity meter installed.

At the moment around 500,000 meters have already been replaced and approximately 500,000 more will be installed every twelvemonth over the next four years.

The initial focus will exist on those homes with the oldest meters. However customers tin can apply to ESB Networks or their electricity supplier for a prioritised installation. You'll demand to quote your xi digit MPRN number when doing and so. This can be constitute on your electricity pecker.

What happens when your smart meter is being replaced?

When it's fourth dimension for your meter to be upgraded, ESB Networks will write out to you lot in plenty of time telling you everything you need to know.

If your electricity meter is exterior your property and can be accessed hands, you don't take to be at dwelling house while it's existence replaced. If your meter is within your dwelling, ESB networks volition arrange an date with you.

The meter exchange itself should take no more than than 45 minutes or so and all Covid safety rules will be closely followed during installation.

One time the meter is installed, yous should be able to sign up to a smart tariff most immediately, though in some cases you may have to wait upward to 30 days in order to give ESB Networks time to start communicating securely with your meter.

Game-changer

The much-anticipated rollout of smart electricity meters in Republic of ireland will be a game-changer for Ireland's energy customers and suppliers alike.

For customers, the power to monitor consumption in real time could assistance many households to improve their energy efficiency, lower their carbon footprint and reduce their bills.

Smart meters should also bring peace of listen when it comes to energy costs, as well every bit the convenience of not having to submit meter readings manually.

Suppliers will no longer have to estimate bills and might see the roll-out of smart meters as an opportunity to introduce innovative price plans and pricing structures.

Switch and save

Whether or not you accept a smart meter recollect that a quick and easy way to salvage on your bills is to switch supplier with bonkers.ie.

Nosotros compare all tariffs, both smart tariffs and normal tariffs, across all suppliers in the market and can help you sign upward to a new deal in just minutes.

Head over to our free energy price comparison service right here on bonkers.ie and start saving today.

If you don't feel like switching suppliers but desire to save, here'due south a listing of helpful manufactures that will aid you reduce how much you spend on your monthly household bills.

• By simply adjusting your habits around the home, you could become more free energy-efficient. Take a await at these xv means to use electricity and save money.
• Working from abode tin can have a significant impact on your energy, broadband and mobile costs. We've compiled a list of 12 ways to save coin while working from habitation.
• Have yous considered retrofitting? Improving your home's energy efficiency not only helps you lot to reduce your carbon footprint just as well means you can save a huge corporeality on your energy bills. Here'southward an overview of finance options and available grants if this is something you're interested in.

Do you have any questions about smart meters or tariffs? We're always here to help! Experience free to comment below or go far affect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What You Need to Know About Gassing Up in Ireland

Source: https://www.bonkers.ie/blog/gas-electricity/smart-meter-tariffs-here-s-everything-you-need-to-know/

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