What a smart meter does
Smart meters are installed by ESB Networks as part of the national rollout. They can send meter readings remotely and support better visibility of your usage.
A smart meter can also enable time of use tariffs, where the price changes by time band. The common idea is to encourage usage away from expensive peak periods.
A smart meter is not the same as a smart tariff
Having the meter does not automatically change your tariff. Any tariff change is agreed between you and your electricity supplier.
Before choosing a smart tariff, compare day, night, and peak rates against your actual routine. A smart plan is only cheaper if your usage pattern fits the cheaper windows.
Using smart meter data
Smart meter data can make comparisons more accurate because it shows when electricity is used, not only how much is used overall.
That helps answer practical questions, such as whether an EV tariff, night saver tariff, weekend tariff, or standard tariff is likely to cost less.
Useful sources
- ESB Networks smart meters
- CRU smart meters and services
- ESB Networks smart meters and data