What is Export Meter?
A meter that measures the electricity your solar system sends back to the grid.
Quick Answer
ESB Networks is rolling out smart meters across Ireland, which automatically record both import and export. If you install solar panels before receiving a smart meter, your exports go unrecorded and unpaid. You can request a smart meter upgrade through ESB Networks or your electricity supplier.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Export Meter Explained
An export meter records the amount of electricity generated by a solar PV system that is not consumed on-site and is instead fed back into the electricity grid. In Ireland, modern smart meters serve as both import and export meters, recording electricity flowing in both directions. The export reading is used to calculate payments under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). Older analogue meters cannot record exports and must be replaced with a smart meter to receive export payments.
How Does Export Meter Work in Ireland?
ESB Networks is rolling out smart meters across Ireland, which automatically record both import and export. If you install solar panels before receiving a smart meter, your exports go unrecorded and unpaid. You can request a smart meter upgrade through ESB Networks or your electricity supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate export meter for solar panels in Ireland?
No. Modern smart meters in Ireland record both imports and exports on a single device. You do not need a separate export meter.
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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.