Smart Pay As You Go Pilot FAQs

The Smart Pay As You Go (SPAYG) pilot is open to eligible Pay As You Go (PAYG) customers. Eligible customers have been contacted by email.

When will the pilot take place?

The pilot is planned to take place from 1 September 2026, and continue for several months. 

What happens if I am selected for the pilot?

  1. If you're selected, we'll share your details with ESB Networks, who'll contact you about installing your new smart meter. Once the necessary pre-checks have been completed, your smart meter will be installed.
  2. You'll receive a new account number and move to our standard 24-hour bill pay plan for 30 days (with no discount applied). During this time, ESB Networks will remotely communicate with your meter* to confirm it can support Smart Pay As You Go communications.
  3. Any energy used during this period will be charged to your new Smart Pay As You Go account. You won't receive a bill while you're on the credit product.
  4. If the communication checks are successful, you'll be moved to the Smart Pay As You Go plan. You can view the Smart Pay As You Go terms and conditions here: Smart Pay As You Go Terms and Conditions
  5. Once you're on your new plan, you can choose to pay for any energy used during the transition period either as a once-off payment or by spreading the cost across future top-ups.
    *To operate the Smart Pay As You Go tariff, ESB Networks must collect your electricity usage data in 30-minute intervals and share it with Bord Gáis Energy for billing purposes. You'll need to consent to sharing this data to take part.

How long do I need to stay on the Smart Pay As You Go plan?

We ask customers to stay on the Smart Pay As You Go plan for at least two months. After the pilot ends, you can choose to remain on the plan if your smart meter is suitable.

How will I know if I've been selected for the pilot?

If your application is successful, we'll get in touch to let you know you've been selected for the pilot.

When will I receive my €20 welcome credit?

Your €20 welcome credit will be applied once your Smart Pay As You Go account has been set up.

Will my unit rates change?

No. There'll be no change to what you pay for your energy during the pilot. Your unit rates and standing charges will stay the same as our standard Pay As You Go and 24-hour credit plans. No discount applies to the Smart Pay As You Go plan.

You can view our current Smart Pay As You Go rates by checking the Urban Smart All Day or Rural Smart All Day tariffs (no discount) on our Tariffs & Prices page.

What happens if my new smart meter can't support the Smart Pay As You Go plan?

If your smart meter isn't able to support the Smart Pay As You Go plan, you'll have a few options:

  • Stay on the standard 24-hour bill pay plan
  • Have your keypad Pay As You Go meter reinstalled
  • Move to a smart credit plan, once your account is up to date with payments

We'll explain your options and help you choose the one that works best for you.

For full terms and conditions of our smart plans see Service and supply Terms and Conditions | Bord Gáis Energy.