The budget controller is installed and operated by the supplier and customers must top up to ensure that electricity continues to flow.Īll electricity customers with a supplier installed budget controller still keep their ESBN meter.
However, some suppliers now offer customers the opportunity to install a budget controller (which is sometimes called a prepay meter), which works in a similar way to the Pay as You Go meter. Pay as You Go meters are installed and operated by ESB Networks. There is detailed information from ESBN on PAYG meters, which you can find by clicking on either of the buttons below: It is important to note that even if you have a Pay as You Go meter, a meter reader will still call to read the main meter. Each Pay as You Go meter has two elements, a customer keypad and an ESB Networks main meter. Your electricity supplier may arrange for a Pay as You Go meter to be installed at your premises. The Wattless meter is distinguished from Standard Meters or Day & Night Meters by the letters kVArh located near its register and is read in the same way. There are two different types – 24 Hr Revolving Disc Meter and Time of Day Meter.įor more information on each type of meter, click on either of the buttons below:īusiness customers may have a Wattless Meter installed. It has a revolving disc and one row of numbers. This meter is the most common type of meter in domestic dwellings. There are three main types of electricity meters in use and below is some information on each Mechanical Meter What type of electricity meter do I have? The markings used are as follows:Ī - means an actual meter read by ESBN or GNIĬ – means a read submitted by the customer.Į – means your bill has been calculated using an estimated meter reading. It will be clearly marked on your bill whether the read used was an actual read, an estimated read or a read supplied by the customer. If you do not submit a meter reading, then an estimated read will be used. When the meter reader cannot get access to the meter they will leave a card in the mailbox to let you know that they were there and to tell you how you can submit your own read. This happens if gates are locked, if there is something blocking the meter or if the meter is inside and you are not at home to let them in. When the meter reader visits your property to read the meter, they may not be able to access it to take a reading. These meter readings are passed on to your supplier, who will use the reads to calculate how much energy you have used and to issue a bill for the usage. For the other two billing periods they will create estimated reads. ESB Networks (ESBN) are responsible for installing and maintaining your electricity meter and Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) have the same role in relation to your gas meter.īoth ESBN and GNI will try to read your meter four times per year.