Frequently Asked Questions

As part of the Climate Action Plan, ESB Networks is replacing 2.4 million electricity meters in homes, farms and businesses across Ireland with next generation meters.  This new technology which is already in use in over 700 million premises worldwide will bring benefits to customers, the environment and the economy.

Benefits to customers:  From 2021 onwards smart meters will provide greater access to accurate information on your energy usage giving you greater control on your energy consumption.  They will also enhance competition and increase the range of products and services available.  From 2021 smart meters will be able to automatically send your meter readings to ESB Networks so the need for estimated bills will be significantly reduced.

Benefits to the environment and the economy:  Smart meters enable the move to a low-carbon electricity network, the development of smart grids, and support the electrification of heat and transport, local renewable generation and micro-generation.

In addition, smart meters can facilitate a reduction in electricity usage and generation, especially at peak times, helping us to become more energy efficient and lower our carbon emissions.

More information on the benefits can be found here.

Deployment of smart meters began in autumn 2019 and to date over 1 million meters have been installed across the country.  Smart meters are being installed on a regional basis and we will give you plenty of notice when we are coming to your area.

All new general domestic 24-hour connections, fault repairs and meter replacements for homes and businesses will receive a smart meter.

No, there is no change to your tariff following the installation of a smart meter at your home or business.  Any change to your electricity tariff is agreed between you and your electricity supplier.  

Customers can apply to ESB Networks or their electricity supplier for a prioritised installation of a smart meter.  When contacting us you'll need your 11-digit MPRN number to hand.  This can be found on your electricity supply bill and always starts with '10'.

Yes, Day-Night meters are being replaced by Smart Meters. However, you will first need to contact your electricity supply company to discuss a new smart tariff.  

Each supplier has different options and once a new tariff has been agreed, your supplier will then instruct us to install a smart meter. Following this, we will contact you to arrange your meter exchange.

To date, as part of the national meter upgrade programme, we have been replacing standard 24-hour electricity meters to smart meters.

From autumn 2023, we will begin exchanging three new meter types, these include:

• day-night meters which have two registers to separately record the electricity you use during day and night.
• replacing standard 3 phase 24-hour electricity meters which are used in larger installations, namely industrial and commercial settings, large farms and domestic premises. (They can be identified by the presence of 3 main fuses instead of one fuse in single phase installations). 
• replacing the meters for customers who no longer use their Night Storage Heating meters with a smart meter

We will write to all eligible customers in advance of the meter exchange with more information.

From autumn 2023, the rollout of day-night meter exchanges to smart meters will begin. It is important to note that having a smart meter installed does not mean you are automatically assigned to a smart price plan and it will not change the cost of your current tariff.

You should contact your electricity supplier directly to enquire about their smart products and the most suitable Time-of-Use tariff for you.

Our smart meter configured in day-night mode will only be available from the autumn of 2023. However, if you would like to receive a smart meter in advance of that, you will need to agree to move to a smart price plan with your electricity supplier. Once agreed, your supplier will then instruct us to install a smart meter.

From autumn 2023, the rollout of smart meters for 3 Phase customers will begin. The deployment will initially focus on those customers who are on a standard 24-hour electricity meter 

It is important to note that having a smart meter installed does not mean you are automatically assigned to a smart price plan and it will not change the cost of your current tariff. 

You should contact your electricity supplier directly to enquire about their smart products and the most suitable Time-of-Use tariff for you.

From autumn 2023, the upgrade of night storage meters to smart meters will begin.

We are starting with customers who have not used their night storage meter in the last two years.

We will contact these customers over the coming months with more information on the timeline and benefits of a smart meter.

For enquiries or further information, please email us at esbnetworks@esb.ie or call us on our Smart Meter Telephone Line 1800 928 123  OR 01 6985005

In response to Covid-19 we have implemented additional measures at this time to ensure the safety of customers, staff and contractors during the meter replacement process.  Further information on these measures can be found here (PDF | 187 KB).

Below are the steps involved in replacing your meter:

• You will receive a letter a few weeks in advance of your meter replacement.
• If your electricity meter is outdoors and easily accessible you don't need to be home for us to carry out the meter replacement.
• If your meter is located inside we will arrange an appointment with you.
• An ESB Networks technician or an electrical contractor working on our behalf will come to your property to remove your existing meter and replace it with the new smart meter.  All our installers carry photo ID badges identifying them.
• To do the work safely we will need to turn off your electricity supply for approximately 45 minutes.
• We will also undertake a safety assessment of the ESB Networks meter installation and, where necessary, may carry out additional remedial works, at no cost to you.

Meet Your New Smart Meter (PDF | 230 KB)

The replacement work will be carried out by either an ESB Networks technician or an electrical contractor working on our behalf.  All of our installers carry photo ID badges identifying them.

ESB Networks technicians and electrical contractors working on our behalf carry photo identification badges.  All ID badges have a photograph of the installer, company logos and clearly state they are working for, or on behalf, of ESB Networks.  If you have any concerns you can call ESB Network on 1800 928 123 or 01 698 5005.

There is no additional charge for upgrading your meter.  Like other meter upgrades, the cost is included in your existing charges for use of the electricity network.

The new smart meter will be located in the same place as your existing one.

No, ESB Networks is replacing meters for all customers, regardless of your electricity supplier.

ESB Networks will contact all customers who have previously registered as requiring special assistance in order to make a suitable appointment for their meter replacement.

To register as requiring special assistance contact your electricity supply company with your MPRN (which can be found on your electricity supply bill and always starts with '10').  This will ensure that ESB Networks can look after you and members of your household in the event of a power outage in your area and when your meter is due to be replaced.

Once installed, your new smart meter will establish its connection to ESB Networks secure communications network over the next 30 days.  When this process is completed your meter will be read remotely, and you will then be able to access new smart services offered by electricity suppliers.  These smart services will vary across different electricity suppliers. To find out more, and to access these services contact your current supplier or any other electricity supplier.

Once your new smart meter has connected to our secure communications network, it will then send automatic readings.  The meter readings collected will be shared with your supply company to allow them to prepare an accurate bill as they do today.

There may still be occasions when remote meter readings are not able to be captured which could result in an estimated bill.

Should you wish to take a meter reading yourself, the process is simple.  To read your meter you'll see your cumulative meter reading in kilowatt hours, or "kWh" on the main digital display screen.  Your don't need to press any buttons on the meter.

• Read the on-screen digits displayed before "kWh" from left to right, remembering to include all digits when reading.

If you wish to see your meter readings for night time, day time, peak time or your export of electricity, you will need to press the push button on your meter:

• Display screen:  Your cumulative meter reading
• Press one:  Date & time screen
• Press two:  Your cumulative meter reading
• Press three:  'Night' time meter reading.  “A+” and “T1” will appear in the top right-hand corner
• Press four:  'Day' time reading.  “A+” and “T2”  will appear in the top right-hand corner
• Press five:  'Peak' time reading.  “A+” and “T3”  will appear in the top right-hand corner.
• Press six: Test screen display
• Press seven: This is the total active energy export register (Micro generation customers), and “A-“ will appear in the top right hand corner.  

You can contact your current electricity supplier or any other electricity supply company to enquire about what smart services are available to you.

There are a few reasons why you might have received an estimated bill from your supplier.

• Over the first 30 days from when your meter is installed, it will establish its connection to our secure communications network.  When this process is completed your meter will send us its readings automatically.  If you've only recently had your smart meter installed the bill may have been created before we started taking automatic readings.
• Sometimes there may be intermittent periods where we lose connection with your meter, this could be caused by our telecommunication network provider carrying out maintenance to the network in your area, a physical obstruction in the way, or by bad weather.
• Your meter may be in an area of low connectivity where it can't connect to our secure communications network.  We can complete a number of checks to ascertain if this is the issue.

We'll try to get an automatic read again from your meter next time but if your bills continue to be estimated please contact us on: 

1800 928 123 or 01 6985005 so that we can look into this for you.

When your smart meter is installed it will take 30 days to establish its connection to our secure communications network.  When this process is completed you will be able to access the new smart services offered by electricity suppliers.

In a small number of cases your meter may not connect to our secure communications network because your meter may be in an area of low connectivity or there may be a physical obstruction in the way.

If we cannot connect remotely to your smart meter you can still avail of the standard time-of-use tariff through your electricity supply company, this will require a meter reader to visit your premises as is the case currently.  Time of use tariffs will enable you to shift your electricity consumption to times of the day when electricity is cheaper.

If your electricity supplier tells you that your meter is not connecting to our secure communications network, please contact us on: 

1800 928 123 or 01 698 5005

ESB Networks have a total commitment to your health and safety.  The upgraded smart meters will be safe and will comply with all necessary requirements and international standards.  Health authorities around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have assessed the scientific evidence and there are no established health effects from smart meters which use similar technology to that used in your mobile phone.

See more information on smart meters and health

You will be able to view and download your electricity consumption data via your ESB Networks Online Account.

We are in the process of enabling each smart meter to make its data available through the ESB Networks Online Account, this process is going to take a number of months, so please bear with us if your data is not yet available.

When your data is available, you will be able to see your daily, weekly and monthly electricity usage which will help you manage your consumption. 

Sign up for your ESB Networks Online Account at : myaccount.esbnetworks.ie  

Once installed your smart meter records details of your electricity consumption, any electricity exported onto the grid, events, alerts and instrumentation data related to the power supply at your house or premises.

See more information on Smart Meters and Data

ESB Networks is committed to ensuring that the National Smart Metering Programme is delivered in compliance with all applicable data privacy laws and that all customer personal data is safe and secure.

The meter has been independently tested from a cyber security perspective and our IT systems, which are protected by multiple firewalls, are also subject to regular independent testing and review.  All data collected from the meter is encrypted and will be securely stored by ESB Networks.

See more information on Smart Meters and Data

The rollout of the National Smart Metering Programme has recommenced from April onwards.  The health and safety of our customers and installers is of the upmost importance and we have implemented additional measures, to ensure your safety during the meter replacement. 

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow government guidance on this matter.

Yes, we are conscious that customers may be self-isolating or working from home. If you would like to arrange an appointment, please call the customer care number on the letter you received in relation to your upcoming meter exchange and we will work to find a suitable time for you.