Since late 2019, ESB Networks have been rolling out “smart” electricity meters across the country under the direction of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities with a plan to have one in every premises in Ireland towards the end of 2024.
Dublin couple Amanda and Tony Reilly have been using a smart meter since winter 2020, coupled with an Electric Ireland smart electricity tariff. They explain how the plan has helped them monitor and optimise their energy usage in the home.
Why did you decide to get a smart meter?
Getting a smart meter was Tony’s idea, although at the time the family wasn’t with Electric Ireland, they explain.
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“We have always been conscious about energy consumption at home but since the birth of our daughter four years ago, we decided we wanted to do as much as possible to help reduce our impact on the environment for her future.
“Our original meter was in our garage, and it had been five years since it had been read. Almost all our bills were estimated and sometimes they were way off. I was constantly ringing the provider to give them the correct meter readings. So, in winter 2020, our smart meter was installed by ESB Networks.”
How did you find out about Electric Ireland’s smart meter tariffs?
As the winter months approached, energy bills were on their mind. They decided to attend the Ideal Homes Show in the RDS to get a better understanding of smart meters and the tariffs available to them.
“Electric Ireland had a kiosk at the show, so we went to talk to the guy there. He looked at our bill and showed us their comparable rates and the available smart plans. He was also able to give us like-for-like comparisons because we already had all the data from the smart meter,” Tony explains.
The couple were out of contract with their provider and had not realised their rate had gone up. Switching was “super easy”, says Amanda.
Which Electric Ireland smart tariff plan did you choose?
Electric Ireland offers a range of plans, but the couple opted to start on a standard home electric-plus smart price plan.
“We were advised to choose this plan for the first few months until we had a full understanding of our usage pattern. Now we think we will go for the home electric night boost smart plan, because the solar panels look after so much of our needs during the day. Switching to the night boost plan will significantly reduce the cost of electricity at night allowing the solar panels to do the work during the day,” Tony explains.
What are the benefits of having a smart meter and Electric Ireland smart tariff?
Having a smart meter plan allows the couple to really understand their energy usage. Once on a smart tariff, it takes approximately four months for the smart meter to gather enough data to be able to review usage in your household. The data is then illustrated in simple graphic formats that show, immediately, where your big electricity outlays are.
“In the first few months after we started receiving energy usage insights, we studied the graphs a lot,” Amanda says. “One of the standout things we saw was the electric shower consumed a lot more energy than we had thought. We would all have showers before bed and could see that was leading to a huge spike.
“We also no longer need to worry about unexpected, estimated bills. Since switching to smart, all our bills are accurate and up to date each month, so we never have any major surprises.”
What have you done since installing a smart meter and switching to an Electric Ireland smart tariff to cut down on energy usage?
After noticing the shower was consuming a lot of energy from their smart meter reading, the couple decided to shop around for a more energy-efficient option. They opted to replace their electric one with a pump-based unit that uses hot water from the immersion-heated tank rather than heating it in the shower unit, as an electric model does.
“We thought a pump shower would be less energy-efficient, but it is not, as long as you invest in a good, well-lagged hot water cylinder to keep your water warm. The electric one was a much higher energy user,” Tony explains.
The couple decided to install solar panels, too. “They were installed in March, and five months on we haven’t yet had to pay for the immersion to heat the hot water,” says Amanda.
While energy costs have gone up, the couple can see from their smart meter exactly how many kilowatts of electricity they have saved.
“We’ve gone from 515kw in December 2021 to 132kw last month, July 2022. I know that the higher figure was in winter, but the data from the smart meter allowed us to make informed decisions about what we could do to reduce our usage,” explains Tony
Tony does not drink tea or coffee, and Amanda uses a coffee maker that heats a cup of water at a time, so they rarely use their kettle, a surprisingly big consumer of electricity in the home.
They also changed from an electric hob to an induction hob because it is more energy efficient than their old appliance.
“The fridge is the next thing we are looking at. It is one of the bigger users of power in the house, we can see that from the data,” says Amanda.
The couple have now opted to air dry their clothes outside as much as possible and only put on a wash during the day when the solar panels provide them with energy. They both work from home.
During the colder months there will be less opportunities to dry clothes outdoors. But in time they will sell excess energy back to the grid through the government’s micro-generation scheme, which will help reduce their bills further.
To learn more about smart meters and Electric Ireland’s smart meter plans, see electricireland.ie/smart-meters