If you want to save money, make smarter energy decisions, and cut your household’s carbon footprint, chances are the key to doing all of this is already sitting in your home.
That’s because, over the past six years, ESB Networks has installed more than two million smart meters in homes, farms and businesses across Ireland.
“Every household wants to keep its energy bills under control, and a smart meter is one of the most practical tools available to help do that,” says Pat Eccles, ESB Networks’ senior manager of distribution markets and system operation.
But simply having a smart meter isn’t enough, he points out. To unlock its value, you also need to set up an ESB Networks online account.
RM Block
Setting up an account couldn’t be easier. It takes just a couple of clicks to deliver real gains in terms of lower bills, personalised tariff decisions with your supplier and a lower carbon footprint. Simply by accessing your smart meter data through your account, you can start to find the best energy tariff for you.
You can even upload your smart meter data into independent price comparison sites such as Bonkers.ie, Switcher.ie, PowertoSwitch.ie or EnergySwitch.ie, all of which are approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), to help you pick the best supplier and best value price-plan for your household.
In addition, sites such as EnergyPal.ie, Kilowatt.ie and Elec-tariffs.ie can analyse your smart meter usage file to find you the best-value tariff for your home. In some cases, you can even make the switch on the comparison site, making life even easier.
Having an account turns your data into insights you can act on, whether that means swapping suppliers, changing tariffs, or simply improving your energy usage behaviour. All offer ways to save you money.
Think of your online account as a window to your electricity use, allowing you to see exactly what you are consuming, when you are consuming it, and where easy savings can be made.
You only have to register for an online account once to view or download all your detailed usage data, regardless of who your electricity supplier is.
‘With a smart meter, customers can take more control of their electricity usage’
— Pat Eccles, senior manager distribution markets and system operation
Doing it pays dividends in two ways. First, you get help to make personalised tariff decisions. Your account shows your half-hourly usage data, precisely the information that price comparison sites need to help you find the cheapest option for you.
It’s an individualised recommendation tailored for your home, rather than based on the national average household.
What’s more, if yours is one of the more than 200,000 homes and businesses that generates its own solar electricity, typically from rooftop panels, your account includes data on the surplus electricity you export to the national grid.
And not only does signing up take just minutes, at myaccount.esbnetworks.ie, but you’re also helping to move the dial on Ireland’s climate targets.
Since ESB Networks began its National Smart Metering Programme in 2019, working alongside the CRU; the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and every electricity supplier in Ireland, the numbers have added up fast.
These form the backbone of Ireland’s digitally enabled network, one that can absorb far more renewable energy and which supports the electrification of transport and heating.
“We are really proud of the progress of the National Smart Metering Programme and reaching the milestone of over two million smart meters installed,” says Eccles. “With a smart meter, customers can take more control of their electricity usage, and we are increasingly seeing this happen thanks to the roll-out of the programme. This is a vital component of ESB Networks’ Networks for Net Zero strategy, enabling a smarter, low-carbon electricity network that will ultimately benefit all customers and help deliver national climate targets.”
With the National Smart Metering Programme nearing completion, households and businesses in every county can see exactly how and when they use electricity. “That gives customers what they need to compare smart tariffs with confidence and choose the one that suits them, so they can get better value,” says Eccles.
“By checking their usage data, customers can see which smart tariff matches the way they actually live. I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to look at their data and make sure they are on the best-value option for them,” adds Eccles.
Registering for an account is helping to fuel Ireland’s energy transition. “Completing the smart metering programme is a major step in building a cleaner, more flexible electricity system for Ireland,” he says. “As more renewable power joins the grid, smart meter data will help customers shift their use to cheaper, greener times of day. The result is lower bills for them and a lower-carbon future for everyone.”
Have a smart meter but no online account yet? Register now to start turning your data into savings
