Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The national smart metering programme, which includes electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. The EU's third energy package sets out the need to roll out smart meters based on economic assessment and provides that in the case of electricity, "where roll-out of smart meters is assessed positively, at least 80% of consumers shall be equipped with intelligent metering systems by 2020". In the case of gas, there is no specific target, but any roll-out is subject to economic assessment. The key determinant of the scale, scope and timing of the roll-out of smart meters is a cost benefit analysis that is being developed by the CER. The results of this cost benefit analysis are expected in the first half of 2017.

Previous statements had indicated that the roll-out of smart meters would likely commence, at the earliest, in late 2018. The go-live date of smart services would follow once a significant number of smart meters have been rolled out. The Commission for Energy Regulation commenced a replanning process of the national smart metering programme in July 2016 with ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland and other relevant stakeholders in order to bring more clarity and certainty regarding the timelines for implementation of the programme. This replanning process, which will conclude later this year, may lead to the timelines being extended.

The costs of rolling out smart meters will be included in the costs of distribution networks in the same way as other infrastructure investments are paid for. These costs are approved by the regulator and charged by ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to energy supply companies. The energy supply companies generally include these costs in the standing charges on customer bills.

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