Smart Meter Insights

As a customer on a smart plan, you will receive energy insights emails based on your energy charges for each period. If you have unsubscribed from these emails and would like to resubscribe, please call our customer service team on 1800 372 372.

Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms analyse Smart Meter data from your home to identify the distinct energy usage patterns of each appliance. Each device has its own characteristic consumption profile, determined by factors such as its total power draw, the time of day or year when it typically runs, how long it operates, how it starts up (whether it turns on instantly or ramps up gradually) and the overall pattern of energy use during operation. For example, a kettle draws a sharp power spike lasting about three minutes when boiling water, whereas a refrigerator cycles on and off in short bursts every few minutes to maintain its temperature  

By examining these details, the AI recognizes each appliance’s unique energy fingerprint and breaks down the overall usage data so you can see exactly how much electricity each appliance is using. 

Your appliance breakdown is based on your household’s usage patterns. The insights we derive from each appliance in your home will change according to your actual usage patterns. So, whether you go on a holiday or have a new addition to the family, we will make sure that you get relevant appliance usage information. 

For the most accurate results, please keep your Home Survey (access via the insights section in either your online account or via app) updated with any new appliances. This allows our AI system to refine its analysis and deliver more precise recommendations. New devices can take a few weeks to be fully recognized. 

Your electricity usage is broken down by major appliance categories in your home. We have given a list of appliances that fall under each category. 

Always On

Always On includes plugged-in devices such as personal computers, monitors, printers, stereos, and televisions that consume energy even when they're turned off.

Heating

Electric heating includes many different types of heaters: radiant, convection, fan, storage, underfloor, heat pumps, and the electric fan component of gas heating.

Lighting

This includes all lights in the home, from efficient LED bulbs to inefficient halogen bulbs, and everything in between.

Refrigeration

Refrigeration includes the aggregate usage of refrigerators and freezers in the home.

Water heating

Water heating includes all whole-home water heaters (tanked, tankless, and heat pumps) as well as specific-use water heaters (e.g., electric showers).

Electric Vehicle

This category includes the aggregate usage of all EVs at the home.

Cooking

Cooking and food preparation appliances that consume significant electricity can be found in this category, including ovens, stoves, toasters, and toaster ovens.

Laundry

The laundry section consists of "wet washing" electric appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers.

Entertainment

Entertainment is comprised of two main appliance types: consumer electronics (TV, DVR, game console, stereo) and home computing (desktop, monitor, printer, modem).

Other

These are appliances that are too small or infrequently used to be categorised separately. This includes mobile phones, vacuum cleaners, fans, hair dryers, and curling irons.

We compare your electricity usage, including both overall and appliance-level consumption, to other homes in your area. These homes are selected based on your Eircode and are on the same price plan with similar energy usage patterns. 

To make the comparison more accurate, please complete the Home Survey (access via the insights section in either your online account or via app). This allows us to match you with homes that are more similar to yours

Yes, these tips are based on your electricity usage and are personalised to you.

Your projected bill is an estimate of your upcoming bill, calculated based on your recent electricity usage patterns. We update this estimate daily as we gather more data on your energy consumption. 

The projected bill includes VAT, PSO levy, and standing charges, but excludes any discounts you receive. Therefore, your final bill may differ. 

You'll receive your Annual Review after 12 months on your Smart price plan. 

It provides forecasted costs for the next year based on your electricity usage over the past year, your usage patterns, and temperature forecasts for the year ahead. 

We'll also compare available Smart price plans and recommend better-value options based on the potential savings you could make over the next 12 months. 

Please note: 

• Forecasts and potential savings are based on the factors above and are not guaranteed.  

• Adjustments cannot be made to bills already issued. 

• If you choose to do nothing you will remain on your existing price plan. 

• The costs shown on the Annual Review page include VAT, PSO levy, and standing charges, but do not include discounts — so your final bill may differ.  

If you are a dual fuel customer, you will be offered our best available gas price as part of your bundle when you have selected your Smart price plan. 

Some of our smart plans offer different rates at different times of the day so that you can select a plan which best suits your usage. If you are signed up for a time-of-use plan, you will pay different rates for electricity used at different times of day or week. This differs from a traditional 'flat rate' tariff, which charges the same rate at all times of day. Time-of-use tariffs reflect the amount of electricity used at different times. 

What do Off Peak, Mid Peak and On Peak mean on my graphs?

If you are on a time-of-use plan, you will pay different rates at different times of day or week, depending on the plan you have signed up for. The table below outlines the smart time-of-use plans, and which period each of the Peak rates relates to.

Find out more about time-of-use.

We provide insights based on your energy usage which we learn through 30-minute interval electricity meter data. Initially, the insights are provided based on what is detected in the meter readings and the default values for an average home profile in our system. Once you fill out the survey, we learn more about your home based on which we can provide more accurate, relevant, and granular insights based on the combined knowledge of your smart meter data usage and Home Survey responses.

How can I complete the Home Survey?

The Home Survey can be accessed from the Appliances section of your Insights tab and from the Profile Menu in the Web Portal.  You can complete or update your Home Survey at any time and it should take 2-3 minutes to complete.

If I don't fill out the Home Survey, what insights will I get? 

We provide insights based on your energy usage which we learn through 30-minute interval data. Initially, the insights are provided based on what is detected in the meter readings and the default home profile values in our system. So, if you do not fill out the the insights provided will be based on what is detected in the meter readings and the default values (home profiles) in our system. 

How often do I need to update the Home Survey?

The Home Survey needs to be filled out once, but you can always come back to the survey and update the answers when there are any changes in your home (e.g. bought an Electric Vehicle, bought a 2nd refrigerator etc.)

If you have recently purchased an Electric Vehicle, ensure that you have updated your Home Survey with the details relating to your EV. Any changes made to the Home Survey will be reflected in the next cycle.

We require your 120 days of billed usage data which is counted from the start of your meter readings up to the end date of your latest completed bill period. This data is required to identify your household’s appliance usage patterns with accuracy.

• Meter Reading Start Date: The first day of your energy consumption that appears in the Monthly view of your Usage tab.
• End Date of Latest Completed Bill Period: Last day of your latest completed bill period which can be accessed from the Yearly view on your Usage tab.

To provide an accurate breakdown of your energy usage by appliance, we require a minimum amount of usage data for each billing period. If there isn’t enough data, we won’t be able to generate a detailed breakdown.

In case of any technical issues on our end, the breakdown will be available within the next few days.