An ESB Networks account will give you valuable insights into your energy usage and allow you to download data on your energy consumption so you can find the best energy deals based on your household’s individual consumption pattern.
If you have a smart meter installed in your home then it’s time to set up your ESB Networks account!
Creating an account is quick and easy and will allow you to track and view your electricity usage, submit meter readings and even report a power outage.
Most importantly, having an account allows you to download a file containing your energy data, helping you find the best energy deals based on exactly when you use your electricity.
Ready to sign up? This short guide will walk you through the process of setting up an account.
But first…
Who is ESB Networks?
ESB Networks is the semi-state company responsible for maintaining and operating part of Ireland’s electricity grid called the distribution network. This encompasses the wires and poles that bring low voltage electricity into people's homes (a separate semi-state called Eirgrid manages the so-called transmission network which transports high voltage electricity around the entire country through large, overhead wires and pylons).
ESB Networks also owns and manages everyone’s electricity meter and is responsible for the rollout of smart meters.
The company is separate from electricity suppliers like Electric Ireland, SSE Airtricity, or Bord Gáis Energy. While ESB Networks manages the physical infrastructure, your energy supplier handles things like billing, day-to-day account queries, the buying of electricity on the wholesale market, and the supply of electricity to your home.
What is an ESB Networks account and why should I set one up?
An ESB Networks account is an online account that you can create in order to manage your electricity.
An account allows you to submit a meter reading to your energy supplier, report a power outage, or check the power status at your home if you think your supply has been cut off. You can also use it to apply for a tree cutting assessment if you think vegetation near the electricity wires around your home represents a safety hazard.
But the main benefit of setting up an ESB Networks account is that you can easily track and view your electricity consumption.
Just log into your account at any time and you’ll be able to see how much electricity you’re using on a daily, monthly or yearly basis. And you can also see how much energy you’re using at peak, off-peak, and night time hours.
And if you have solar panels, you’ll be able to see how much electricity you have exported to the national grid.
Knowing all this information can help you calculate in advance what your bills are likely to be. And it can give you a rough idea on which appliances are costing you the most to run. And you don’t need to have signed up to a smart meter tariff just yet in order to view any of this information.
Just note that there is usually a short delay of around 36 to 48 hours in seeing your consumption. So if you log into your account on a Wednesday afternoon, you should be able to see your consumption figures up to the preceding Monday.
Another major benefit is that you can use your account to download a file containing information on your exact energy consumption, which is really handy given the roll-out of smart meters.
This is because all energy suppliers now offer a range of smart electricity tariffs which charge different prices for electricity at different times of the day and night. By knowing exactly how much energy you're using and at what time of the day and night, bonkers.ie can match you up with the right energy deals!
Just upload the file onto bonkers.ie when comparing energy deals and we’ll show you the cheapest tariffs based on your actual consumption pattern.
How do I set up an ESB Networks account?
Setting up an account is really quick and easy and only takes a few minutes.
It’s free to set up an account and it doesn’t matter which supplier you are with.
- Head to www.esbnetworks.ie
- Click on the customer icon on the top right of the page
- Click on “Register Now”
- Enter your email address and hit “Send Verification Code”
- Enter the code sent to your email and create your own personal password
- You’ll then be asked to enter your name, mobile number and MPRN to complete the registration process.
What is my MPRN?
Your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) is a unique 11-digit number which identifies your home on Ireland’s electricity network.
You can find your MPRN on any recent bill. You can also find it in your bonkers.ie account if you’ve previously switched energy supplier with us.
It will never change, no matter which energy supplier you are with.
You must link your MPRN to your ESB Networks account to be able to view your energy usage.
How do I access a file on my energy consumption from ESB Networks?
Accessing a file with data on your energy consumption is easy.
- Just log into your ESB Networks account
- Go to “My Energy Consumption"
- Click on “Downloads”
- Download the first file in the list called “30-minute readings in kW” onto your computer
You can then upload this file when comparing energy deals on bonkers.ie and we’ll tell you the best deals for you based on your exact electricity usage so you can get the best savings.
And if you have solar panels installed, and are being paid for exporting electricity back into the grid, we’ll also take this into account when calculating your savings.
You can read more about the micro-generation scheme and the rates suppliers are paying for exporting solar energy back into the grid here.
How much data can I see?
You'll be able to view up to two years of data. And if you change supplier during the two years, this won't affect what you're able to see.
You'll also be able to see your data from when your smart meter was first installed (going back up to two years of course).
So if your smart meter was installed just under a year ago, let's say, and you set up your ESB Networks account today, you'll have almost a year's worth of data to see.
