Only 4% of houses with smart meters are on smart plans

our estate had smart meters installed last year but we were omitted. Now we are having solar installed and we are told to get the smart meter. I thought it was essential bit of kit for exporting excess back to grid? Also we would like to be able to charge up the solar battery with that cheapest nighttime rate. Eventually I found out that we had been rated a 'vulnerable' customer and that was reason we were omitted! And more research on same they told me vulnerable meant 'elderly'! So to get that removed I had to contact provider (Airtricity) and then get back to ESB. Now I am told it will be several months before a letter might be sent about getting a meter installed. Oh give yourself plenty of time if you wish to contact ESB.

I won’t be opting in.

Who’s to say another price band won’t be brought in for 5-7pm for smart meters?

What’s the name of that plan?

If I stay opted out I can’t get charged extra for usage between 5-7 yeah?

As an example BGE have Time of Use (ToI) smart plans. Their peak time (5 to 7pm) rate is about 10c per unit higher than their day rate.

You can only be charged these rates if you have opted in to their smart plan.

Just to be clear here cobham.... your saying your actively attempting to get a smart meter installed? What do you have right now? Normal 24 hr meter, or D/N.

I'm one of the 4% and I'm not a fool.

I did my analysis and for me it results in significant savings. I have low enough electricity use and have an EV, the EV makes up a significant enough portion of my bill it is worthwhile to get the very cheap rate to charge it, I can then run other appliances during that period too.

That said I can see why it doesn't make sense for most.

Can't analyse usage easily without having to sign up for a smart tariff means you don't know can you make it worth your while

Too much stick not enough carrot, if going to charge premium need to make cheaper rates decently cheaper.

But if we are encouraged to avoid using power between 5 and 7pm it ultimately leads to less new power plants being built, whether it's coal, wind or nuclear etc.

This means less expensive electricity overall.

Yup, curbing peak loads will indeed get rid of a few power stations, which (in theory) does mean less expensive electricity.

I'm not affiliated in any way with any of these companies, but there are smart people working in Eirgrid, ESB networks, the suppliers (although sometimes you would question it - LOL), they wouldn't have spent billions (that's with the "B") on converting 2.5 million homes on a "whim"! To think that they are somehow idiots cause the uptake in smart tariffs is 4% is probably misguided.

They know the score. They've done the research. They've seen the experiences of other countries in Europe like our friends across the lake in the UK when smart meters rolled out there and the savings that large scale deployments create. They know the tariff systems which work to achieve those savings.

The whole 4% is a temporary onboarding cost/situation. The optics look odd, but they just don't want the negative spin of backlogs etc in installs for people on the bread line wanting to save a few quid on a cheaper tariff.

At work my desk neighbour was telling me his provider has been messaging him about needing to take a smart tariff plan. He hasn't done anything about it yet he was looking for advice. I confirmed that he doesn't have to switch to that more expensive tariff.... the relief on his face. He could not understand why they were so insistent he switch when it looked to him like it was only more expensive options.

When I switched it to a smart plan it saved me ~€800 per year. I looked it up. Several rises later, the landscape has changed -- not so good for me. Not foolish (@unkel that clearly irked me), just unlucky.

Will we call the D/N folks fools if the plans all change next month (or next year if you are lucky enough to have a fixed rate) and the night tariff doubles? I won't. Will I change to a D/N meter now if I can? Yes, the rates are much better for EV or load shifting.

I have a fairly classic hourly usage profile:

With solar and a small battery (5kWh) in summer I almost completely avoid the peak rates even though this is my peak usage too -- both smart plans and D/N meters allow for this. The D/N is more generous and at the moment has more favourable rates (esp. at peak times). Can you guess when my cheap rate is?

In winter, well less solar:

Short of cooking my dinner in the middle of the day (or investing a lot of money) I'm shelling out for the bad electricity in winter.

The best any of us can do is to know our numbers and shop around frequently. Solar definitely takes the edge off.

No worries @unkel great thread.

I'm still trying to maximize self consumption. Hoping that we follow Germany in the budget and exempt FIT income for tax purposes.

Meanwhile some of my energy is going on escaping the MCC12 designation... Unless they change the rates again. I suspect the CRU accelerate could be glacial.

Will you get paid the FIT if you have not opted in while having a smart meter do you know?

What plan are you on with Energia? You bill should show the details. What's the MCC code number on your bill.