PrePayPower for Solar Panel Owners
PrePayPower pays 15.89 c/kWh under the Clean Export Guarantee scheme, with payments made twice yearly. As Ireland's largest pay-as-you-go electricity supplier (~250,000 customers), PrePayPower is the only realistic CEG option for households on a PAYG meter, though the rate is among the lowest in the market.
Last verified 6 May 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
PrePayPower pays 15.89 c/kWh for exported solar electricity under the Clean Export Guarantee, twice yearly. 14.0 c ex-VAT. Pay-as-you-go customer base; SEG paid twice yearly. For a typical 4.4 kWp Irish home exporting around 2,000 kWh per year, that's about €318 in annual export earnings.
PrePayPower Microgen / CEG Plan
| CEG rate | 15.89 c/kWh (inc VAT) |
| Payment frequency | Twice yearly |
| Smart meter required | Yes, for measured exports |
| Cap on exports paid | None published |
| Contract terms | Pay-as-you-go |
| Parent company | PrePayPower (Irish-owned) |
14.0 c ex-VAT. Pay-as-you-go customer base; SEG paid twice yearly.
PrePayPower Rates & Prices for Solar Homes
Your solar export earnings only tell half the story. What you pay to import electricity at night and on dull days matters just as much. Here is what PrePayPower charges a new customer on a standard 24-hour urban meter, alongside an estimated annual bill at typical usage (4,200 kWh).
| Import unit rate | 49.09 c/kWh (inc VAT) |
| Standing charge | €315.25/year |
| Est. annual bill | €2377 at 4,200 kWh/yr |
New-customer discounted rate, standard 24-hour urban meter, inc 9% VAT. Import rates verified 13 May 2026.
What PrePayPower CEG Is Worth to You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume.
| System size | Typical annual export | PrePayPower earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2.6 kWp (6 panels) | 1,200 kWh | €191 |
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | €254 |
| 4.4 kWp (10 panels) | 2,000 kWh | €318 |
| 5.3 kWp (12 panels) | 2,400 kWh | €381 |
| 5.3 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | €222 |
How CEG Payments Work with PrePayPower
- Your installer notifies ESB Networks (NC6 form) to register your inverter as a microgenerator. PrePayPower cannot pay CEG until ESBN approves this.
- You register with PrePayPower via their app, account portal or customer service, including MPRN, NC6 confirmation and IBAN.
- Your smart meter records imports and exports half-hourly, with readings flowing to PrePayPower automatically.
- CEG payment lands twice yearly as a bill credit (or cash payout where supported).
- Subsequent payments are automatic unless you change supplier or move house.
Switching to or from PrePayPower
Switching to PrePayPower
- Sign up online or by phone, switch completes in 2–14 days
- Re-register your microgenerator (NC6 + MPRN)
- First CEG credit lands at the next billing cycle
- Existing exports during the switch are paid by your old supplier
Switching away from PrePayPower
- Check for early-exit fees on your tariff (most CEG plans don't charge)
- Final bill clears any outstanding CEG credit
- CEG isn't portable, re-register with new supplier
- Best time: end of your billing period to capture all earnings
PrePayPower vs Other Suppliers for Solar
| Supplier | CEG Rate | Payment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bord Gáis Energy | 18.50 c/kWh | Quarterly bill credit (after 3-month wait) | PrePayPower vs Bord Gáis Energy |
| Electric Ireland | 19.50 c/kWh | Per billing cycle | PrePayPower vs Electric Ireland |
| Yuno Energy | 15.89 c/kWh | Twice yearly | PrePayPower vs Yuno Energy |
| EcoPower | 15.20 c/kWh | Quarterly | PrePayPower vs EcoPower |
See the full ranking on our CEG rate comparison page.
PrePayPower Review: Is It Good for Solar?
PrePayPower's pay-as-you-go model is its defining feature, and that carries over to solar: the 15.89 c/kWh CEG is paid twice yearly rather than credited continuously. It also has one of the highest import unit rates we track, so it makes most sense for households already committed to prepay metering rather than solar owners optimising for export value.
PrePayPower ranks 8th of 9 on export rate. Whether it suits you depends on your full bill, not just the export rate, so we weigh import prices, standing charge, payment speed and any restrictions below.
Pros
- No published cap on the volume of exports paid for.
Cons
- Standard CEG rate of 15.89 c/kWh sits near the bottom of the market (ranked 8th of 9); higher-paying suppliers exist.
- Import unit rate of 49.09 c/kWh is among the most expensive we track, eroding the value of any export earnings.
- Pays export credit only twice yearly, so you wait longer to see the money.
Bottom line: PrePayPower is hard to recommend on export rate alone. Consider it only if a sign-up bonus, low import price, or a partnership tier offsets the lower CEG, and compare against higher-paying suppliers first.
PrePayPower Microgen FAQ
What is the PrePayPower CEG rate in 2026?
PrePayPower pays 15.89 c/kWh (inclusive of VAT) for exported solar electricity, twice yearly.
When does PrePayPower pay CEG?
PrePayPower pays CEG twice yearly as a bill credit on your electricity account.
Can I switch to PrePayPower as a solar owner?
Yes. Every Irish supplier is required by law to offer a CEG tariff. Switching takes 2–14 days and you don't lose power. You re-register your microgenerator with PrePayPower and CEG payments resume from the next billing cycle.
Does PrePayPower cap how many kWh of export it pays for?
PrePayPower: None published.
What are PrePayPower's electricity rates and price per kWh?
PrePayPower's standard residential price is 49.09 c/kWh per unit (inc VAT) on a new-customer 24-hour urban plan, plus a standing charge of €315.25/year. At typical usage of 4,200 kWh a year that works out to an estimated €2377 bill before any solar self-consumption or export credit. Discounted new-customer rates change often, so confirm the live price with PrePayPower before switching.
Who owns PrePayPower?
PrePayPower is part of PrePayPower (Irish-owned).
Is the CEG payment taxable?
Under Section 216D of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (as extended by Finance Act 2025 to 31 December 2028), the first €400 per year of CEG export income is exempt from income tax. Income above that is taxable.
Is PrePayPower the best supplier for solar?
PrePayPower's CEG rate of 15.89 c/kWh ranks 8th of 9 in the Irish market. The 'best' supplier depends on your overall bill, not just export rate, compare import unit rates, standing charges and any sign-up bonuses on our hub page.
Sources
- PrePayPower , prepaypower.ie
- CRU, Microgeneration consumer information , cru.ie
Last verified: 6 May 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
Compare All CEG Rates
Switching to the highest-paying supplier is worth €100–€300 a year on a typical 4.4 kWp system. See how every Irish supplier ranks on our full Clean Export Guarantee comparison.