I don't have a smart meter, can I still get a payment for exporting electricity?

You may be eligible to receive a payment for exporting electricity, depending on your meter type.

If you have a 24-hour meter

If you have a 24-hour meter, you're eligible for a smart meter under the current roll-out. In this instance, you must have a smart meter. 

When your smart meter is installed, ESB Networks (ESBN) will start taking actual readings for your micro-generated export. We'll receive your metered export quantities from ESBN and we'll use these to calculate your export payment. Where ESBN are unable to provide us with a metered export quantity, they will send us a deemed export quantity. 

Please note that legacy non-smart 24-hour meters (also known as MCC01 meters) are not eligible for microgeneration payments.

If you have a day/night meter

ESBN has started installing smart meters for customers with day/night meters.

  • If your micro-generator was installed prior to 11 September 2023, you'll be entitled to a microgen payment until your smart meter is installed. 
  • If your micro-generator is installed and approved after 11 September 2023, but you don’t have a smart meter, you won’t qualify for a microgen payment until your smart meter is installed.

Other meter types

If you've a meter type that’s not mentioned above, you’re not yet eligible for a smart meter under the current ESB-led rollout. However, you may still be eligible for a deemed export payment if you're microgenerating electricity. 

If you have a 3 phase meter, you’re eligible for a microgen deemed payment until your meter has been exchanged to a smart meter. Once you have a smart meter, you'll become eligible for a metered payment.  

ESBN will start to roll out smart meters to 3-phase customers from 5 August 2025.

If you've refused a smart meter 

If you're eligible to upgrade to a smart meter and object to a smart meter installation by ESBN, you'll be ineligible for payment for your exported electricity. For more information, visit cru.ie.  If you’d like to receive payments, then you must contact ESBN and have a smart meter installed.

For more information on smart meters, see our Ultimate Guide to Smart Meters.