Bord Gáis Energy has introduced new electricity tariffs for consumers with smart meters.

The smart plans include a choice of either 'Free Time Saturday’ or ‘Free Time Sunday’ offers, giving Bord Gáis Energy customers free electricity between 9am and 5pm on their specified day at weekends.

BGE will also be making a ‘Discount Weekend Plan’ available, which gives customers a night rate all weekend from 11pm on Friday to 8am on Monday.

Colin Bebbington (pictured), Retail Director, Bord Gáis Energy, commented: “The roll out of smart meters in Ireland offers Irish householders access to more timely, detailed information of their energy usage; and with so many people working from home right now, improving energy efficiency is high on the agenda.

“Smart homes and smart energy are the future, and Bord Gáis Energy is committed to bringing the most innovative plans and products to help customers have a smooth transition to smarter energy. Our smart plans will give our customers more control over their energy, providing flexibility and insight. By offering different energy prices for different times, we’re giving customers more power and choice around their energy usage that suits their lifestyles.”

In Association with

Electric Ireland and Pinergy have also unveiled new tariffs tailored to the smart meter’s capabilities. Electric Ireland's ‘Home Electric+’ has multiple new tariff options:

• Night Boost — a cheaper electricity rate at night (11pm to 8am) and a super cheap boost period from 2am to 4am, when customers can charge their electric vehicles for just over 5c per kWh.
• Weekender — Saturday or Sunday electricity free of charge.
• Standard Smart Tariff — day/night/peak rates giving increased flexibility and control over home usage.

The national smart metering programme will ultimately replace 2.4 million electricity meters with ‘next generation’ smart meters. Approximately 250,000 households have had a smart meter installed over the last 18 months.