'Is This a Good Time?' FAQs

• As Ireland relies more on renewable electricity generation, at certain times the electricity system will be under pressure. Ireland has a plan to grow the contribution of wind and other renewable sources as we move towards a Net Zero future. 
• However, wind can be variable. A shortage of back up generation means we face a heightened risk that the supply of power can keep pace with demand. This risk is greatest at the peak times between 5pm and 7pm Monday to Friday.  At other times, when wind generation is high, consumption may be low and this presents an opportunity to utilise greener, less carbon intensive electricity.
• A number of Government bodies are working closely on measures to minimise the risk of disruption and optimise the utilisation of greener supply over the coming months. In 2022 ESB Networks set up a suite of  initiatives under an umbrella Programme called ‘Beat the Peak’, as part of the National Network, Local Connections Programme to work with customers across homes and businesses to help move consumption away from times of constraint, and utilise during times of cleaner supply. 
• ESB Networks’ ‘Is This a Good Time?’  campaign is a Beat the Peak Domestic initiative and is an awareness and engagement campaign that educates people, regardless of who their electricity supplier is, on how and when they can use their energy throughout the day. Its purpose is to provide signed up participants with information which will empower them to take control of their electricity usage and provide them the opportunity to earn rewards for taking specific actions when prompted, once certain criteria within the terms and conditions are met. 

• Peak electricity demand typically occurs between 5pm and 7pm Monday to Friday, there can also be a higher demand for electricity supply during weekday mornings. 
• During this time, because there is greater need for electricity, Ireland is more dependent on imported fossil fuel, making the peak period more carbon intensive.  

• During the peak demand periods, if there is pressure on gas supply, or when wind generation is low, or generators or interconnectors are out of service, there is a risk of insufficient generation to meet demand.
• Given Ireland’s dependency on imported fossil fuels and geo-political activities at present there is a possibility of electricity generation shortages at peak times this winter.  

• SEAI have a comprehensive list published on this topic – find SEAI-ReduceYourUse-Booklet.pdf
• The 5 most energy intensive appliances (use per hour) in descending order are – electric shower, tumble dryer, cooking (induction), kettle and iron. 

• Outside of the feedback surveys, we would appreciate any further feedback which can be submitted to engagement@esbnetworks.ie. 
• From time to time, the ‘Is This a Good Time?’ team will send you a survey via your ESB Networks Online Account to get your feedback on how  your experience so far. These survey links may also come from our research partners B&A or Bricolage. 

No, your electricity tariff will not be changed if you create an ESB Networks Online Account or register to join 'Is This a good Time?' Rewards.  To change your electricity tariff, you will need to contact your supplier directly.  

Creating or using the ESB Networks Online Account will allow you to download your smart meter data, submit a meter reading, find your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) and view current power outage information against your registered MPRN(s).  You can also indicate a preference to sign up for our future digital outage notification service and commence a new connection process and join ‘Is This a Good Time?’ customer programme.

• For more information on your Networks Online account, please see the FAQs here.

• To sign up you will need to have an ESB Networks Online  Account.  
• If you do not already have an ESB Networks Online Account, please click here to get started.   
• If you already have a portal account please click here to sign up to “Is This a Good Time?” 

• ESB Networks operates the electricity grid for all electricity customers in Ireland. We are not a retail electricity supplier. The 'Is This a Good Time?' programme is open to all electricity customers regardless of their supplier. 

• In order to deliver the full experience of "Is This a Good Time?" an ESB Networks Online Account is required.

• You will receive updates via text message and email, and over time will see more information via your ESB Networks Online Account.

• Yes, you can. Every communication you receive will give you the opportunity to ‘Unsubscribe’ if you are experiencing any issues then please email engagement@esbnetworks.ie with ‘Unsubscribe’ in the subject header.
• You may also unsubscribe by logging into your ESB Networks Online Account, navigate to the 'Time for Rewards’ icon in your ESB Networks Online Account and select ‘unsubscribe’.

• Customers will receive helpful hints and tips on how to take control of their electricity usage. Customers will also receive alerts in the form of ‘energy events’ requesting they take a suggested action to take control of their electricity usage. You will be asked to let us know if you could take the requested action, and you may also be asked to provide feedback on your experience.

• ESB Networks is committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable data privacy laws and that all customer personal data is safe and secure.
• You can view ESB Network’s privacy and cookie policy which is located in the footer on the ESB Networks website.

• Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) is the owner of the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Northern Ireland (not ESB Networks).  
• As ‘Is This a Good Time?’ is being delivered to ESB Networks customers, those living in Northern Ireland with a UK mobile phone number can register for ‘Is This a Good Time?’ but will not be eligible for rewards.

• No, a smart meter is not required to participate in this campaign.

• When you sign up to 'Is This a Good Time?' we will utilise the contact information used when creating your ESB Networks Online Account.
• If you are not receiving communications please email engagement@esbnetworks.ie and include your phone number and email address used with your ESB Networks Online Account. 

• Please email engagement@esbnetworks.ie with ‘Unsubscribe’ in the subject header.  

• We only require a minimal amount of personal data to join the campaign. We do, however, offer participants the opportunity to receive more customised hints and tips if they provide answers to the additional, optional questions upon sign up.
• You can find out more about how we use your data in our terms and conditions available to view here.

• As we utilise the contact information associated with participants ESB Networks Online Account, please update your contact details in that account and this will also be updated for ‘Is This a Good Time?’ communications.
• Please Note: Each customer account must have a unique mobile number associated with it. If you update your mobile number to one that is already being used by an existing ESB Networks Online Account, you will no longer receive ‘Is This a Good Time?’ communications.

• All participants will receive Energy Event communications. Those participants who can take the requested action, report as doing so via the Event response and who have a valid Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) associated with their ESB Networks Online Account when submitting the Energy Event response. Responses must be submitted within 72hours of the Energy Event response communication. 

• No, ESB employees are not eligible to receive rewards.

• If you did not receive your voucher please email engagement@esbnetworks.ie.

• Eligible participants will receive up to the value of €5 for every event where they report taking action, provided they have a MPRN linked to their ESB Networks Portal account when submitting their event response.

1. When there is surplus renewable electricity generation, we may encourage you to take advantage of the available renewable energy as it may be less expensive and less carbon intensive at this time. 
2. When there is less renewable energy generation available, this is a good time to take control of your electricity usage by avoiding electricity-heavy appliances such as your tumble dryer, dishwasher and iron. 

• A Peak event is when there are lots of people using electricity at the same time and there is not enough renewable energy generation to supply electricity demand. This means that during peak events electricity is more expensive, more carbon intensive, and it may be less secure. 

• Yes, there are a set rules in place to mitigate risks to the network. During an event, where it is a good time to use an appliance, we will only ask a small group of people to increase electricity consumption with a specific appliance at that time.

• The 'Is This a Good Time?‘ programme will ask customers to shift their electricity consumption to times of the day when there is surplus renewables on the network or to shift their electricity consumption from a time when there is constraint on the Network.
• If you sign up to the programme with your MRPN number then you will get rewarded with vouchers for participating. 
• In the majority of cases shifting your electricity usage to different times as proposed by 'Is This a Good Time?’ should not cost you more money, however we do suggest you check your current electricity price plan to confirm.

• Energy Events can be called on any day where there are lots of people using electricity at the same time, including on days of amber alerts, but also on other days when demand is high and renewable generation is low. 
• An Amber Alert is an alert issued by EirGrid to the electricity sector when the buffer between electricity supply and demand is tighter than EirGrid would like. In practice, when this happens it is likely that ESB Networks will trigger a Peak Event.

• No, you will not be penalised if you do not act. If you are eligible for a reward as part of your participation in Energy Events and you wish to redeem the rewards, you will be required to respond to the Energy Event  within 72hours of receiving the Energy Event response survey.
• Each qualifying response is the equivalent of up to a €5 digital voucher for those with a valid MPRN associated to their account at time of response survey submission.

• Due to the controls and protections required as part of the Turn On messaging, not all participants will receive these requests.
• Turn on messaging will be sent to smaller groups of participants, who have an MPRN associated with their account, and who are based in an area with surplus renewable energy available at that time.

• Customers do not have the option of changing the reward offered to them for supporting with energy events. 

Rewards will be calculated on a monthly basis and will be paid out once three successful actions have been taken. If you have any questions about rewards, please reach out to engagement@esbnetworks.ie