Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today launched the National Smart Meter plan. From today, over 60,000 ESB customers will receive a letter inviting them to take part in the first phase of the national roll-out of smart meters.
A national smart metering initiative was a key commitment under the Programme for Government and is crucial to Ireland’s policy to save energy and money through the use of this cutting-edge technology.
Up to 21,000 electricity customers will get a Smart Meter installed in their home for free as they participate in the behavioural and technology trial to inform the national roll-out.
Smart meters are the next generation of electricity metres. They monitor and record the electricity used by the householder and when it is used. This data is communicated directly to the electricity supply company. The smart metres involved in this trial are not just the latest technology for the metres themselves but also involve the development of a highly sophisticated communications systems at the supplier end.
By capturing the patterns of energy usage at different times of the day, Smart Meters provide the information necessary to make people aware of how much energy they are using. Meters will be read every half hour or 48 reads per meter per day. This will help in providing very accurate billing information and time-of-use pricing. The electricity supplier will also be able to ultimately reduce costs, improve electricity planning and system management and enhance competition in the electricity sector.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has been charged with leading the implementation of the project, which involves a range of stakeholders from the energy sector.
At the launch Minister Ryan highlighted the technically challenging and ambitious nature of this project, “With this Smart Metering plan, Ireland is leading the world. I wish to commend all the agencies and companies who are part of this plan. I will work to ensure that all Irish homes have smart meters over the next four/five years. This trial phase is crucial in the ultimate successful delivery of this project.
I would urge all customers who receive a request to participate in this trial to become involved. When customers realise how much they can save and the carbon reductions that ensue I believe they will find smart meters one of the smartest devices ever installed in their homes.
Through participating, individual consumers will have an opportunity to make a real contribution to our energy future. Being ‘energy clever’ as a consumer, a supply company and a nation is one of ways we can meet our energy and climate change challenges.”
Dermot Nolan from the Commissioner for Energy Regulation said: "This is an important step in the process of enabling consumers to use energy more efficiently and effectively. It should lead to signficiant savings as well as empowering consumers to have more information and control about their energy consumption."
SB's Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, described this as "a very significant milestone in the plan to introduce Smart Metering to all electricity customers".
"Smart Metering will enable customers to carefully manage their electricity consumption. It is the first step in the development of a smart and sustainable electricity network for Ireland", he added.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy and
Natural Resources
T: 6782441
E.mail: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Plean Náisiúnta na Méadar Cliste arna Sheoladh ag an Aire Ó Riain
Céim triallach á tosú chun cabhrú le teaghlaigh a gcion den fhuinneamh a úsáideann siad a laghdú; oibriú an chorais leictreachais a fheabhsú agus astuithe carbóin a laghdú
Baile Átha Cliath, 15ú Meán Fómhair 2008
Inniu do sheol an tAire um Chumarsáid Éamonn Ó Riain Plean Náisiúnta na Méadar Cliste. Ón lá inniu amach gheobhaidh 60,000 custaiméir den BSL litir ag tabhairt cuireadh dóibh páirt a ghlacadh san chéad chéim de eis-rothlú náisiúnta na méadar cliste.
Ba phríomh-ghealltanas faoi Chlár an Rialtais go mbeadh tionscnamh náisiúnta um mhéadrú cliste agus is rí-thábhachtach é do bheartas na hÉireann chun fuinneamh agus airgead a choigilt le feidhm na teicneolaíochta ceannródaí seo.
Suiteálfar Méadair Cliste saor in aisce sna háitribh ag suas le 21,000 custaiméir leictreachais as páirt a ghlacadh san triail iompair agus teicneolaíochta chun faisnéis a bhailiú faoi dhéin an eis-rothlaithe náisiúnta.
Is iad méadair cliste an chéad ghlúin eile de mhéadair leictreachais. Déantar leo monatóireacht ar úsáid an leictreachais ag an dteaghlach agus cathain a úsáidtear é agus coinnítear taifead di. Seoltar an t-eolas seo díreach chuig an ghnólacht soláthair leictreachais. I gcás na méadar cliste seo ni hamháin gur sna méadair féin an teicneolaíocht is déanaí ach go bhfuil córais cumarsáide sofaisticiúla arna bhforbairt ag ceann an soláthraithe den nasc.
Agus patrúin iompraíochta um úsáid an fhuinnimh ag amanna éagsúla den ló arna mbailiú acu soláthraíonn Méadair Cliste an fhaisnéis is gá chun fios feasa a chur ar dhaoine faoin oiread fuinnimh a úsáideann siad. Léitear an méadar gach leathuair an chloig nó 48 n-uair in aghaidh an lae. Ba chabhair é seo chun grinn-sonraí a thabhairt faoi úsáid an leictreachais san mbille agus chun praghsanna a ghearradh agus iad bunaithe ar am na húsáide. I ndeireadh thiar féadfar don soláthraí a chuid chostas a laghdú agus pleanáil um leictreachas a fheabhsú agus feadfar cúrsaí iomaíochais ar an mhargadh a fheabhsú.
Tá cúram ar an gCoimisiún um Rialáil Fhuinnimh ceannas a ghlacadh ar chur i bhfeidhm an tionscnaimh ina bheidh mórchuid de geallsealbhóirí na hearnála leictreachais páirteach.
Ar ócáid an tseolta chuir an tAire béim ar a oiread de dhúshlán teicniúil atá san tionscnamh seo agus cé chomh uaillmhianach atá sé, agus dúirt: “Agus an plean seo um Mhéadrú Cliste aici tá Éire chun tosaigh ar mhuintir eile na cruinne. Molaim go hard na gníomhaireachtaí agus na gnólachtaí go léir atá páirteach san phlean. Cuirfidh mé féin chuige chun cinntiú go mbeidh méadair cliste i ngach áitreabh cónaithe in Éirinn laistigh de ceithre nó cúig bhliana. Baineann tábhacht thar chuimse leis an gcéim triallach más amhlaidh go n-éirí leis an tionscnamh seo ag deireadh an lae.
“Mholfainn dos na chustaiméirí uile a gheobhaidh cuireadh chun bheith páirteach san triail an cuireadh a ghlacadh. Nuair a aithneoidh custaiméirí cé mhéid choigiltis is féidir leo a dhéanamh agus na laghdaithe carbóin a éireoidh as siúd creidim go nglacfaidh siad leis na méadair cliste mar na fearais is cliste dár suiteáladh riamh san tigh.
“Ach páirt a ghlacadh beidh deis ag gach aon chustaiméir a chion suntasach a infheistiú san todhchaí fuinnimh againn go léir. Bheith “stuama um fhuinneamh” mar thomhaltóir, mar ghnólacht soláthair agus mar náisiún dúinn ceann des na bealaí ata romhainn chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar na dúshláin fhuinnimh agus athrú aeráide.”
Arsa Diarmuid Ó Nualláin ón gCoimisiún um Rialáil Fhuinnimh: “Céim tábhachtach í seo san bpróiseas chun cumas a thabhairt do thomhaltóirí an fuinneamh a úsáid ar bhealach níos éifeachtúla agus níos éifeachtaí. Ba chóir go ndéanfar coigiltis suntasacha dá bharr agus go gcuirfí ar chumas na dtomhaltóirí breis eolais a bheith acu faoi úsáid an fhuinnimh agus níos mó ceannais acu uirthi.”
Thug Pádraig Mac Maghnusa, Príomhfheidhmeannach an BSL: “cloch mhíle suntasach ar an mbóthar chun Méadrú Cliste a chur ar fáil dár gcustaiméirí leictreachais uile,” air.
“Cuirfidh Méadrú Cliste ar chumas gach custaiméara bainistíocht cúramach a imirt ar a thomhailt den leictreachas. Is í an chéad chéim chun gréasán leictreachais cliste inmharthana a fhorbairt d’Éirinn,” ar seisean.
CRÍOCH