Smart Tariff Unit Rates

True, but back then I couldn't get the grant anyway as it was for houses built in (I think) 2011 and older (very short-sighted). At least I can actually take advantage of the grant now, and €2400 is better than zero which is what I've been able to get in the way of grants to date!

As I thought. I think to get a Heat Pump, we have t pay €200 for an assessment, but we get that back on fitting, but I just can't get the answers I need without paying that €200, so I will get them fitted anyway, but not through the grant scheme.

Is it not like the UK where you can 'spoil the ballot' and that gets counted? I know it makes no difference, but at least you get to vote for 'none of the above'.

I promise too get back on track with the discussion, but I just had to say that whereas I don't dispute what you say about Ireland's government, I do have to say you have it good compared to the UK. I moved to Wexford in 2017, I put my house on the market in the UK the day Brexit was 'voted' for. Eight weeks later I was living in Ireland! I can tell you this for certain; the UK government is as deluded as it gets, lies are built on lies and they are on the heels of Russia and Putin for the brainwashing they push on the UK public. Trust me, Ireland's government is better (I know its hard to believe, but I got to see both sides). For example, here everyone got €200 credit towards their electricity bills, in the UK, they loaned everyone £200 to be paid back over the next 6 years! I guess people living in Iraq long to live in the UK, for the same reason; the grass is always greener somewhere else!

Anyway, back to the discussion!

I just emailed Electric Ireland to ask them how they will know I have solar panels and how much they will pay me per unit exported, I will publish their response IF I receive one!

Yeah it'd be interesting to learn what % of houses still have spinning disc meters. Comfortable majority anyway I imagine.

lots will have the spinning disk meter but very few will have the disc that spins round and round backwards. Most have a catch that prevents it spinning back more than half a turn back.

I called electric Ireland asking them again why hasnt the meter been changed. Nobody is turning up.

So they told me to ask esb networks and gave me their number.

I called them and she said "it will be done when its done".

I said 1 week, 2 weeks, another month?

She said "Whenever it is done".

What an ignorant shower

these are the one big switch rates and are not for smart metered customers

Well, you're aware that you can refuse the smart meter right? As I just did last week. You can call esb networks and ask for your name and address to be removed from their "to do" list.

A day might come where they become mandatory, but that won't be by 2024.

I've just had my smart meter installed. Note they reset your reading to Zero on the time its installed. Makes looking back and power usage harder in future, so record your pre=tariff use in advance. Now as for tariffs. I have a few rants on the meters-

1- Your normal daytime rate goes up (not alot but still) for no apparent reason. Its not to pay back the cost of the meter or so we are told.

2 The range of tariffs is limited. I am with Electricity Ireland (dual fuel) and there is no green energy option which seems crazy. Are we to just presume night rate access or weekend access for smart meters is all being coincidentally by renewables. (this might be Electric Ireland only however). Where is the tariffs that notify you that using power NOW would save you (so you might remote into the smart plug at home and turn on the dishwasher-slow cooker-tumble dryer etc.

3 I choose the "no option" option ie they will collect more info over time and when I have a better idea of usage, I can see what tariff is the best one to go for. I am told that the meters can detect power use on a device basis ie dishwasher etc. This is pretty useful to understanding your power use, as otherwise it would be device detectors on every device. So I can make a more informed decision whether night rate or weekend (one day) free power is the best choice and whats costing the most to run and when I could save at a lower tariff rate.

If you don't change the plan to a smart meter only plan tariff you stay on the tariff you are already on till the end of the contract. This might be useful depending on how long the contract has to run out. Moving to a new smart meter only tariff does not result in you paying an early termination fee TO THE SAME UTILITY YOU ARE ON (for electricity) as you do at present. However as always perhaps only consider changing contract when you are reaching the current contract termination date so you can move to any utility like bonkers etc would work out.

The range of tariffs is still very small. The smart meters allow night rate access for not extra cost to the utility as meter readings can be done EVERY 15mins remotely. I want to see more innovative tariffs. Tariffs that fall if there is lots of renewable power on the grid, tariffs that incentivise you to change your power use (yes there is one for peak time power demand in the early evening but its very limited). Tariffs that rise if lots of coal would otherwise be needed etc. Only 10% of meter users who get a new smart meter are changing their plan to take advantage of the new tariffs that are possible (some must have storage heating-heat pumps-electric water heating that would all benefit). Assuming they were not paying for the greedy levy for having a separate night meter.

Running the old meters backwards to slow meter readings is not the answer to assisting our climate change. Yes power bills are going up but smart meters incentivise you to move your power use to other times of the day /overnight when demand is low (and so are power prices), when renewable generation is high and coal-gas power demand can then be cut. It will be a learning exercise for everyone but the incentive to run the dishwasher/high temperature washing machine wash and some other items (phone/laptop/tablet recharging) are possible without the previous cost of running an extra night rate meter. We can also consider running the immersion in morning night rate mode for morning hot water use vs turning on the gas boiler every morning so its not a cold shower. Naturally smart meters for heat pump use/EV charging is useful but few need the heating running overnight unless its a cold winter night. If you get solar+storage then you could recharge the battery overnight or at the lowest cost setting.

In Australia and the US, there are options for smart meter users to sign up to "clubs" that operate as massive power demand levers. So that if a utility has to choose between using current high cost gas to meet demand or have the club cut power demand at a large scale, they will pay the club to cut demand and avoid some of the high fuel cost to generate power for the utility. Its not here in Ireland but a massive smart meter userbase allows that possibility. In Australia home solar power users can get paid to avoid the grid becoming unstable by charging their home battery or cutting power demand into the home altogether. We're not sunny Australia but that can be a reason at some stage for communities to install community solar or wind turbine and access the same benefits as the large current utilities have if they can move power demand.

It also means there is a real value in buying white goods and smart plugs that can time when the device turns on. Up till now almost nobody without a night meter could take any financial benefit from it. I want to see the daytime tariff increase end, lots more tariffs (few will need to change every 15mins but...) and perhaps some savvy services that allow the residential user to look like a powerful lever on the grid as large energy users can already avail of due to their scale.