Electricity FAQs
Gas FAQs
General FAQs
Electricity FAQs
The Commission has approved the following tariffs to apply to ESB Customers Supply customers from 1st October 2009.
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Unit Rate
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1st January 2009
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1st January 2009
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Urban 24hr
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0.1640
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0.1410
|
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Urban Nightsaver
|
|
|
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Day Rate
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0.1752
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0.1506
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Night Rate
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0.0867
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0.0745
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|
|
|
|
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Rural 24hr
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0.1640
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0.1410
|
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Rural Nightsaver
|
|
|
|
Day Rate
|
0.1752
|
0.1506
|
|
Night Rate
|
0.0867
|
0.0745
|
Electricity Tariffs 1st January 2009 - 30th September 2009
ESB Bands 1st January – 30th September
The electricity tariffs published by the Commission for Energy regulation on 1st December 2008 apply to the period 1st January 2009-30th September 2009
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Unit Rate
|
1st August 2008
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1st January 2009
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Rebate per month for 9 months
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Urban 24hr
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0.1597
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0.164
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€1.91 per month
|
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Urban Nightsaver
|
|
|
|
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Day Rate
|
0.1706
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0.1752
|
€1.91 per month
|
|
Night Rate
|
0.0844
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0.0867
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Rural 24hr
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0.1597
|
0.164
|
€1.91 per month
|
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Rural Nightsaver
|
|
|
|
|
Day Rate
|
0.1706
|
0.1752
|
€1.91 per month
|
|
Night Rate
|
0.0844
|
0.0867
|
|
How will my bills change?
All customers will see an increase in the unit rate for their electricity usage. The increase in the unit rate will be offset by a rebate which will be applied to customers’ bills as a separate line on the bill. The majority of domestic electricity customers will see either no change or a small decrease overall in their electricity bill. However, a number of customers will see a small increase. Customers using a single electricity meter who consume 3997 kWh or less (Up to 30th September 2009) will see no change or a small decrease in their annual bill. For customers using a single electricity meter who consume over 3997 kWh there will be a small increase in their average bill of up to 3%. For customers who pay for their electricity at both day and night rates, the change in annual bill will be determined by the day to night usage ratio.
Example:
For usage of 3997 kWh over 9 months:
Domestic Urban Customers
Old Tariff Rate: New Tariff Rate:
=.1597 x 3997= 638.32 = .164 x 3997 = 655.50
+ 91.98 standing charge + 91.98 standing charge
(- 17.19) rebate
Total = 730.30 Total = 730.30
No Change In Bill Costs
Domestic Rural Customers
Old tariff Rate: New Tariff Rate:
=.1597 x 3997= 638.32 = .164 x 3997 = 655.51
+ 122.64 standing charge + 122.64 standing charge
(-17.19) rebate
Total = 760.96 Total = 760.96
No Change In Bill Costs
For Nightsaver customers the difference in bills will depend on the ratio of day to night usage
Is there a price increase difference between Urban and Rural rates?
There is no difference in the percentage change in rates between Urban and Rural tariffs.
What is the rebate being applied to my bill?
Due to the sale of a number of ESB power plants customers will see a rebate on their annual electricity bill. This rebate is being returned to customers as the power plants which were sold had been supported by h the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy. As the PSO is paid by all electricity customers, monies from the sale are being returned to all electricity customers. For ESB Customer Supply domestic customers the rebate will show as €1.91 per month for 9 months (up until 30th September 2009) during 2009.
I’m not an ESB customer; will I receive a rebate on my bill?
The rebate will apply for all electricity customers in the same way. Therefore if you are a domestic electricity customer of an independent supplier you will also see €1.91 per month of a rebate up until 30th September 2009.
Will my standing charge change?
There will be no change in the standing charge for this tariff period.
If I change supplier do I need to change my meter or wiring?
NO. ESB Networks are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of meters and the electricity network for all customers. You will not see any change in the electricity service you receive if you change your supplier.
If I change supplier will I loose my electricity allowance?
NO. If you are in receipt of the Free Electricity Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs you will not loose your allowance if you change supplier. Customers who switch supplier will receive a monatary allowance instead of a deducation from their bill.
I have changed supplier - why have I received a letter from ESB Networks?
When you change supplier you may receive a letter from ESB Networks setting out information on connecting to the electricity network and information on the connection at your home. This letter is for information only and you do not need to follow up in relation to nominating your new supplier. This is a standard letter that is sent automatically when you switch supplier.
What electricity suppliers are operating in Ireland?
All providers and contact details: Electricity Suppliers
How do I get connected to a provider?
Please see our section on Getting Connected.
Why do I need to pay a security deposit and when will I get it back?
Customers who do not have a credit history with a supplier are asked to pay a deposit on their account. Each supplier’s policy varies.
How often is my meter read?
ESB Networks aim to read your meter up to 4 times a year. This is not always possible, so if there is no actual meter reading your bill will be issued based on an estimated meter reading. This will always be clearly marked with a letter on your bill.
E – Estimated bills based on previous consumption.
How can I avoid estimated bills?
If you receive a bill which has been estimated, you can contact your provider with an actual read from your meter and the bill will be readjusted. You may need to contact your provider for a key to your meter box.
Who do I contact if there is a fault with my electricity?
Call ESB Networks on 1850 372 757 and they will investigate the situation and advise you of the outcome.
Who do I contact in an emergency?
Please report dangerous/emergency situations to ESB Networks on 1850 372 999
For example:
- Power lines down
- tree fallen on power line
- damaged poles
- sparks
- flame, smell of burning at the meter, a pole or substation.
Log onto ESB Networks website for advice on safety during severe weather.
What is the difference between ESB Customer Supply and ESB Networks?
There are separate and distinct business units within ESB and are ring fenced through their respective licenses issued by the CER.
ESB Customer Supply is an electricity supplier and supplies electricity to its consumers. It has no connection with the activities of ESB Networks.
ESB Networks is the regulated System Operator and is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission and distribution network and developing commercial arrangements for use of the electricity network in the Republic of Ireland.
What is the difference between an Urban & Night tariff?
Urban Standard
The Standard Domestic tariffs have a single unit charge for all electricity used.
Urban Nightsaver
The NightSaver tariffs have two different unit charges - one for electricity used during the day and a second, lower, charge for electricity used during designated night-time hours.
Designated Nighttime hours
The lower cost hours for Nightsaver electricity are from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. in wintertime (late October to late March) and from 12 midnight to 9 a.m. in summertime (late March to late October).
What tariff can I choose as a rural customer?
Rural Domestic and Farm Standard
The Standard Domestic tariffs have a single unit charge for all electricity used.
Rural Domestic and Farm NightSaver
The Night Saver tariffs have two different unit charges - one for electricity used during the day and a second, lower, charge for electricity used during designated night-time hours.
Designated Nighttime hours
The lower cost hours for Nightsaver electricity are from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. in wintertime (late October to late March) and from 12 midnight to 9 a.m. in summertime (late March to late October).
What is the night storage heating tariff?
This tariff is offered under the Rural and Domestic ‘Standard’ tariff. If you have a night storage-heating appliance, you can avail of the cheaper Night Storage Heating kWh unit charge. This requires implementation of a separate meter to the heating appliance and accordingly a separate standing charge is applied.
How is my tariff made up? – Standing Charge, Unit Rate & PSO.
The approximate breakdown of costs to make up tariffs is 65% for the cost of generation, 5% for the cost of transmission, 25% for the cost of distribution and 5% for supply costs.
Each domestic tariff is composed of three elements:
| How Tariff is Made Up |
| Element |
Description |
| Standing Charge |
The standing charge covers the upkeep of the network necessary to bring supply to your home, together with the cost of reading the meter, issuing and processing the bills, etc. These costs have to be met irrespective of the amount of electricity used.
Rural standing charges are higher than urban standing charges due to the additional costs of maintaining supply to rural customers.
A small additional standing charge applies where a second meter is installed for electric storage heating. |
| PSO Levy |
The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is imposed through a levy introduced by the Minister for Public Enterprise. It was introduced to promote the use of indigenous fuel sources for the production of electricity.
In particular it relates to the purchase by ESB of the output of certain peat generated electricity, and the output of certain generating stations using renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy. This increases security of supply in the system and promotes the use of renewable resources.
The cost of purchase by ESB of these sources of electricity was included in electricity bills issued by the Board prior to the introduction of the PSO levy and therefore, an appropriate adjustment has been made to separately identify the PSO levy, on a basis approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation. As CER has deemed there to be currently no additional cost, the PSO Levy continues to be set at zero (and appears as €0.00 on your bill. |
| Unit Charge |
The unit charge relates to the amount of electricity you use. The amount of electricity used is recorded in "units" each of which is equivalent to 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour, and is known as kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Under the ‘Standard’ tariff, a separate unit charge applies to Night Storage Heating.
The NightSaver tariffs have two different unit charges - one for electricity used during the day and a second, lower, charge for electricity used during designated night-time hours. |
Why is the day rate of the Nightsaver tariff higher than the day rate of the 24hr Standard tariff?
On the 1st November 2007, the CER launched the Single Electricity Market, (SEM). In the SEM, wholesale electricity supplies are bought by ESB Customer Supply from an electricity Pool through which the bulk of electricity generation in the island of Ireland is sold. The price of electricity in the Pool varies in each half hour depending upon the type of generation that produces the electricity supply and its associated fuel costs. The cost of generation during day hours is higher than the cost of generation during night hours. Therefore, the day rate on the Nightsaver tariff is slightly higher than the single rate on the Standard tariff as the day rate reflects the higher cost of generation during day hours only, whereas the single rate recovers the cost of generation during both day and lower priced night hours. The Nightsaver tariff night units are charged at less than 50% of the day rate, thus incentivising customers to be more energy efficient by shifting their energy consumption away from the more expensive peak high demand day times to night time hours. There is a higher standing charge for Nightsaver tariff to reflect the higher underlying non-energy costs such as network operation and maintenance, customer billing and services associated with providing this tariff.
Gas FAQs
What gas suppliers are operating in Ireland?
All providers and contact details: Gas Suppliers
If I change supplier will I have to change my meter or pipework?
No. Bord Gais Networks are responsible for installing and maintaining meters and the natural gas network for all customers. If you switch supplier you will see no change in your natural gas service.
If I change supplier will I loose my natural gas allowance?
NO. If you are in receipt of the Free Gas Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs you will not loose your allowance if you change supplier. Customers who switch supplier will receive a monatary allowance instead of a deducation from their bill.
How do I get connected to a provider?
Please see our section on Getting Connected.
Why do I need to pay a security deposit and when will I get it back?
Customers who do not have a credit history with a supplier are asked to pay a deposit on their account. Each supplier’s policy varies. SUppliers usually offer a reduced deposit for customers who opt to pay by direct debit.
How often is my meter read?
If you are a domestic gas customer your meter is physically read up to 4 times a year. However, this is not always possible and they may need to use estimated reads to calculate bills. This will always be clearly marked with a letter on your bill.
E – Estimated bills based on previous consumption.
How can I avoid estimated bills?
If you receive a bill which has been estimated, you can contact your provider with an actual read from your meter and the bill will be adjusted. You may need to contact your provider for a key to your meter box.
How do I report a suspected gas leak?
The Bord Gáis 24 hour Emergency Line is 1850 20 50 50
What is Carbon Monoxide?
For information on Carbon Monoxide or to arrange for a safety inspection call 1850 79 79 79
Further information is available from the safety section of Bord Gais website.
What is the difference between Bord Gais Supply and Bord Gais Networks?
Bord Gáis Energy Supply and Bord Gáis networks are separate and distinct business units within Bord Gáis that are ring fenced through their respective licenses issued by the Commission.
Bord Gáis Energy Supply is a gas supplier, solely responsible for the supply of gas to its consumers. It has no connection with the activities of Bord Gáis Networks.
Bord Gáis Networks is the designated subsidiary within Bord Gáis Eireann with ownership responsibility for the transmission and distribution assets. BGN constructs and extends the natural gas network in Ireland to the highest safety standards. They also connect all gas customers to the network.
Where can I find out about Registered Gas installers?
Further information is available from the Registered Gas installer listing of Bord Gais website.
General FAQs
What does the CER do?
The CER is the Commission for Energy Regulation. We have responsibility for regulating natural gas and electricity in Ireland. For specific industry information you can visit our industry website www.cer.ie
How do I claim free Gas or Electricity Allowance?
If you are in receipt of a pension or state benefit you may also qualify for a Free Gas or Electricity Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. If you are not already in receipt of this please contact the Free Schemes Section on 1890 50 00 00. This allowance can be obtained for either gas or electricity, but not for both, so it is advisable to assess which would be more beneficial to you before choosing one.
I have a problem with my bill, what can I do?
If you are experiencing difficulties with any aspect of your bill you should contact your supplier first to rectify the situation.
How do I make a complaint with my provider?
By Phone:
- Before calling your supplier or network operator, gather all relevant documentation e.g. your bill, your account details and any correspondence with the supplier or network operator.
- Have an idea of what outcome you want and how you want to put forward your argument.
- Make notes of your conversation including details of the name and title of the person you spoke to, the date of the call and any commitments or agreements that person makes including promises to call you back.
Tips
- Always take the name and department of the person you have spoken to and note the time and date.
- Try to remain calm when putting your case forward. Do not lose your temper.
- When you are making your call allow sufficient time as your call make take longer than you expect. Also leave time to write up notes at the end of the call so you remember all that is said.
- If you receive verbal commitment to a resolution ask for the decision to be sent to you in writing.
- If you receive a promise of a return call, make sure you have a firm time for the call.
By letter or email:
- Make sure you address your correspondence to the appropriate person. If you do not know who this is call your supplier to find out.
- Explain the issue in as much detail as necessary. Use facts that you have and enclose copies of any supporting documentation you may have.
- Explain what you see as the resolution to the issue.
- Make sure to include your account reference number and your address to allow a response.
Tips
- Always keep a copy of correspondence you send or receive.
- Do not send originals of related documents. Send a copy and retain the original.
- If you do not receive a response to your correspondence phone to follow up.
What do I do if I’m not happy with the outcome of my complaint?
The Commission has a role to play in assisting you when you have difficulties dealing with your supplier or network operator. Once you have completed your suppliers complaint handling process you can send a letter of complaint into the Commission with your complaint reference number or alternatively call the Energy Customers Team on 1890 404 404.