The National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP) from ESB Networks has reached a major milestone.

The firm celebrated the successful installation of 500,000 smart meters in customers' homes, farms and businesses across the country.

Commenced in July 2019, the roll-out programme is being delivered by ESB Networks and three deployment contractors, generating more than 500 additional jobs over the lifetime of the project. ESB Networks will continue to install more than 40,000 smart meters each month for the next three years to the end of 2024. It is being delivered in partnership with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and other industry stakeholders.

Welcoming the major milestone, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: "It's very positive that we have reached the half million milestone in the National Smart Metering Programme. This national upgrade of electricity meters is benefiting homes, farms and businesses across the country in a very practical way and I look forward to even more customers getting on board. Smart meters give people more real-time information and more control over their energy usage and their bills, which is very important at a time of high international energy prices. Smart meters will also facilitate reduced energy consumption and more renewable power on the electricity system, which will help us to meet our climate goals and become more energy independent."

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Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director, ESB Networks, added: "I welcome today's announcement which demonstrates ESB Networks commitment to the delivery of the Climate Action Plan and to enabling a low carbon electricity network. As we increasingly use more electricity to decarbonise heat and transport, this programme is a critical enabler to ensure that Ireland's climate action plan targets become a firm reality."

The NSMP has enabled the development of new smart electricity services by the country's energy suppliers, providing more detailed information on customers' electricity usage and reducing the need for estimated bills.

John Melvin, Director of Energy Markets and Smart Metering, The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, commented: "Smart Meters are bringing benefits to customers, the economy and the environment. Since February 2021, electricity supply companies have been offering additional services and products to customers where a new Smart Meter has been installed. These products include Time-Of-Use tariffs that allow customers to move some of their consumption to time of the day when electricity is cheaper. Since February, over 20,000 customers have availed of these types of services and we expect the take up of these tariffs to increase significantly. Having a smart meter makes switching even easier. At a time when energy prices globally are rising, we would encourage Irish consumers to use technology like smart meters to get the tariff that best suits their needs."

Smart meters are being installed, at no additional costs to customers on a regional basis and the programme is currently working in counties, Dublin, Cork, Laois, Louth, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Clare, Sligo, Leitrim, Limerick, Roscommon, Monaghan, Kilkenny and Carlow. ESB Networks plans to extend the roll-out to areas in additional parts of Dublin, and counties Wexford, Cavan, Donegal and Mayo in the coming months.