Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the smart meters being rolled out by the ESB under the smart meter programme are capable of differentiating between night and day; if not, if this will impact on the ability of the meter to register for night-time discounts for electricity users or on the feasibility of feed-in tariffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28181/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that the energy efficiency potential of smart meters starts to be deployed in 2021 and that all mechanical electricity meters are replaced by 2024. The Smart Meter Upgrade is a meter replacement programme to modern, smart-ready technology. New generation electricity meters are being rolled out across Europe and internationally and when the programme completes in Ireland in 2024, all domestic and business premises will have a new modern meter installed. The programme is being coordinated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities with ESB Networks responsible for rolling out the smart-ready electricity meters.

The installation of smart meters is a key enabler for the energy transition to a decarbonised system as outlined in the Climate Action Plan.  In addition the move to upgraded digital meters will bring many benefits for energy customers by enhancing competition, making bills more accurate, providing customers with better information on their energy consumption and empowering them with new tools to make more informed choices about their energy needs.

Smart Meters are configured to record consumption in day, night and peak time periods, as well as in shorter half-hour intervals. Smart Meters are also configured to record any electricity feeding into the grid. Customers with a Smart Meter will be able to avail of new tariffs and services which will be available from electricity supply companies from 2021.

Since September 2019, when ESB Networks commenced the replacement of over 2 million electricity meters, over 150,000 electricity meters have been installed to end September 2020.