Best Electricity Plan for new EV Owners

kuang1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332184#Comment_119332184

This is untrue. Yes you can have your meter changed.

I'm with Bord Gais, and it took me 3 attempts at requesting a change to d/n meter to finally have it done. Turns out esb networks never received the request the first 2 times as the individuals I spoke with at BG did not process the request correctly.

I expect this is what may have happened here. You could always contact esb networks and they'll tell you if they received any request for change of meter. I'll bet they didn't.

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332480#Comment_119332480

I agree with this, its a scenario i have heard before, a lot of the customer service agents do not know the details, same with IBAN from non Irish Bank account, EI customer service agents told me this was “impossible, on two separate occasions, which was incorrect.

I would suggest the next time you ring EI, ask for a supervisor. I swapped mine out in April last, ordered via Bord Gais, i had no issues, but am aware of those that did.

I am not aware of a new policy on meter swapping, i doubt this has changed.

darrenheaphy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119328680#Comment_119328680

Mine is 377.06 incl. VAT

SD_DRACULA

Coming to the end of my contract with bordgais in about 2 weeks time and I am on a d/n meter right now (not smart)

Wondering if the energia EV plan is still the best one out there:

Have solar with a 20kwh battery pack so I will be using the night charging in winter to hopefully avoid any day units.

eddhorse

No brainer if you have the battery alright, Ed shakes fist

Liam2021

My meter is getting changed from a smart meter to a day/night meter on Friday. I will be changing to board gas or electric Ireland. Any advice on which is best. There is a big difference between the rural standing charge

fafy

Its tricky to compare, as, EI have announced another price increase from August 1st, and its very likely Energia & Bord Gais will follow, exactly when this will be, is unknown. The best option might be to wait a few weeks.

I also notice Bord Gais have several 24 month plans, not something i would personally consider.

The various providers are also been regularly increasing standing charges, this often goes under the radar, EI have both current, and post July 31st standing charges listed, but Energia & Bord Gais have not announced their price increases yet:

kuang1

I'm with BG and just recently changed to a d/n meter.

Rang them last week to see what different plan options are available to me now, and was told that there is only one:

Including VAT, day rate 26.67c, night rate 13.2c.

No EV plan available. No alternative plan other than this one.

She also mentioned that if there was another plan available and I wanted to switch to it, I would have to pay a charge of €50 for exiting my contract early, despite (and I repeated this question 3 times for clarity!) me remaining a customer of theirs!!

Disgraceful carry on.

I'm leaving things be for now, but as soon as my EV arrives I'm jumping ship.

DaveyDave

Is it even worth looking into these plans that much? Pick the cheapest now, it will likely go up. Go for one that went up recently, it will likely go up again in 6 months anyway.

I got a €30 gas bill for the last 2 months, only €5 of that is actual gas. The standing charges and taxes are absolutely ridiculous. Same with electricity, 2 of us in the house at the moment, both working in the office and no EV at present. 1.2kW solar on the house so annual usage is fairly low and a big chunk of our summer bills are just charges and tax...

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119358383#Comment_119358383

Ya, its tricky, all though, Flo gas who have very high tarriffs, have a good offer for Natural Gas, a credit of €220, which will pay for your annual standing charges. Thats a 12 month plan, avoid the 2 year plan offering same credit.

https://www.flogas.ie/assets/uploads/documents_autopopulate/Natural_Gas_And_Electricity_Downloads_Residential/C016494%20Flogas%20Cashback%20T&C%20A4_Digital.pdf

You have to stay the full 12 months, or the credit recouped, but thats okay, its particularly good, if you have very low annual gas usage, which is me.

Flogas are also the latest to increases rates from August 19th next:

https://m.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/flogas-announces-sixth-price-rise-for-households-in-past-year-41850667.html

eddhorse

Just switching to Electric Ireland today from SSE, 21c day, 10c night. Going to 23/11 in august.

SSE could only give me 29c day and 16c night, standing charges are roughly the same too.

Energia 27c day and 7.9c night, looking at my usage roughly 50/50 for day to night, EI was a better deal.

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119360601#Comment_119360601

Yes, everyones requirements/usage is different, Energia’s 27/7.9 day/night deal is really only good, for people with PV panels.

eddhorse

Or definitely a battery to charge up overnight.

Definitely write down all your usage for one year and compare what you can, especially with EV and night rate.

Standing charges vary slightly too.

as of August 1st EI standing charge is 396, SSE 286, Energia 296

munsterfan2

Has anyone tried to calculate their costs on a BG smart plan. I have the rates (Rural EV 32% discount) as

but when I try calculate the actual charges, multiplying the 30min smart reader values by the above rates the numbers are off. (Had no issues with electric Ireland)

KildareP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366358#Comment_119366358

Yep their website seems to only provide a "guesstimate" and seems to round everything up, e.g. my standing charge (Urban 100% Green free Saturday) at €218.75 a year works out at 1.248c every 30 mins but gets rounded up to 2c which would make it €350.40 a year (I queried this as my "free" usage period was still showing 2c every 30 mins which is the standing charge).

I've been told that the monthly or two monthly bill is what actually decides what you are charged, and that works out your pro-rata standing charge for the month or two months and your aggregate day, night and peak units for that period multiplied by your unit rates.

munsterfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366890#Comment_119366890

Thanks, I had noticed the kw/h unit counts were the the sum of the rounded values of the 30 minute readings ( to 2 places ). I guess I will just ignore their costings and get mine synced so the bill is correct monthly.

Redfox25

Pick your brains here folks if that's OK.

Currently use 1100 odd units with no ev, one due next month. Estimating 20k mileage. Smart meter currently.

Paying 21c per unit with Energia, 243 euro standing charge.

Is it worth moving to day night as likely only thing that will be using night rate is the car. Unlikely to get the dishwasher and washing machine over to night rate atm. Started a new contract at start of this month so would have to factor in breaking contract too.

Anyone got a spreadsheet set up by any chance?

Thanks in advance

crisco10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395004#Comment_119395004

20k km mileage at say 18kWh/100km is about 3600kWh. The rule of thumb is if you can move more than about 30% onto night rate, it's worth it. So based on your day consumption being only 1100, you would be using about 75% on night rate just charging the car.

For context, we've done less than 1k km per month for past 4 months in our EV, but we are running at 50/50 ish day/night (granted with some machines running from 7am on night rate).

dingbat

Getting a new EV next month. Am assuming that there is little to no point in trying to guesstimate what the best plan might be until I see how much our usage is under our current one?

Redfox25

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395038#Comment_119395038

Thanks for that Crisco10

I think I may have explained it poorly. Its circa 1100 per billing cycle so circa 7k units per year. Throw in another 3.6k units for the EV and it tips it to the over 30% of total usage where day night makes sense.

Mr Q

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395397#Comment_119395397

Also take into account a percentage of your current 7k is already being used during the 9 hours night rate period.

So with the EV and no changes to anything else you would be close to 50% night rate easier than you think.

Liam2021

Just switched to night meter and signed up with EI. Currently working out as 70% night rate, 30 day. Most appliances and Both EV are timed for night use. We are shocked at how easy the change has been

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119396284#Comment_119396284

Great to hear, some minor behavioural changes, make a big difference.

i’m at about 55% at night rate, but luckily, one of our two EV’s, is charged exclusively at work, the other, at home at night rate, the heat pump only heats the hot water at night rate, and all appliances now timed, to finish, just before night rate ends, so i am somewhat limited, at getting this % at night rate, any higher.

Its working out very well overall.

cromelex

Even though I am mostly working from home, I am managing to put in over 60% of my electricity consumption between 2 and 5am (have the Bord Gais EV Plan with the 2-5am super cheap rate). I have another 14% of my consumption on the night rate.

EV's trully make up for a huge portion of electricity use, so it is rather easy to make it worth it.

These are the current figures for this month.

Mupchease

When I was shopping around before the last rate hike it worked out that I would be saving over €400 per year if I had an old meter rather than a smart meter. Tried get the Esb to change it but they wouldn’t. Some way to incentivise ev charging when it works out more expensive on the “ smart meters “ I was told by the Esb it’s more expensive due to maintenance costs.

John arse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398243#Comment_119398243

How will it work out in the winter?

cromelex

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398477#Comment_119398477

We will see. Only recently moved, A rated new build with a a2w heatpump. Hoping to be able to set it to heat up during the night and that the house will retain the temperature during the day.

The house had a smart meter installed from day 1, so not much I could do on that end in terms of rates that were available.

John arse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398615#Comment_119398615

Best of luck with the house👍

Redfox25

I spoke to Energia today to look what rates they could offer.

Currently on 21c per unit.

They offered this EV tariff 31% discount of 27.43 day night is 7.89 vat included. Needs a day night meter.

Just need to run the figures but it looks good from a glance

Sam the Sham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398738#Comment_119398738

I just rang them and the cheapest they would offer me to renew my dual-fuel (my contract with them just expired) was 29.xx incl VAT day and something like 15+ incl VAT night rate. And 7+ for that gas. I pointed out that their website has a plan with 26.5/13.6. "That's for new customers."

It says nothing on the website that I could find about it being only for new customers. Meanwhile BG are offering (for now): 21.7 day incl VAT, 10.74 night, 6.0 on the gas. I realise that this is likely to increase following EI's recent increase. But if I'm out of contract I had to make a decision now so went with the cheapest option currently available.

I know Energia has an EV rate, but we are able to charge the car at work for free much of the time so the higher day rate on that plan doesn't work for us.

Redfox25

Bonkers.ie and you can use that to help find something, as you are out of contract they should be trying to keep you

Mike2006

So I am out of contract tomorrow with my current energy provider and my plan is to switch to a different provider.

I currently have a regular meter (non-smart) but my EV is arriving mid-September so my plan is to get a night saver meter also as my charging will be overnight and this makes sense.

Should I:

1. Move plans to a regular plan and then get the new supplier to organise/order my night rate meter and then switch to a new night-rate plan with the same provider once it is installed
2. Sign up to a night-rate plan right away (even though I don't have the meter)

My gut says option 1 because there could be a delay in the install of night meter and the unit cost then goes up while I am waiting and also I know that they are pushing smart meters heavily now so they could fight me for a while on the night meter...

BTW: why are the plans on the smart meters so rubbish? They should make them at least equally attractive as the night meter rates (at night) if they want people to move over...

Thanks,

Mike

Sam the Sham

I doubt you can sign up to a day-night electricity plan before the day-night meter is installed. So I imagine option 1 is your only possibility and I would choose your plan on the assumption that you'll be switching to day-night. It also makes more sense since 24 hour rates are lower than the day rates on the day-night plans.

There has been some debate here about whether the Energia EV tariff (27.43 cent/kWh daytime; 7.9 cent/kWh night) is really a fixed-rate tariff. In other words: is it just the discount level that is fixed or are both the rate and the discount fixed. I can confirm that it is the only tariff at Energia (and probably the only tariff in the country) where both the rates and the discount are fixed. I just renewed on it today.

Although Bord Gais actually worked out slightly cheaper for my consumption patterns, particularly since their gas tariff is currently one cent lower than that Energia one, the fact that I can fix the electricity today at a relatively low rate made the choice a no brainer. If the UK is anything to go by, I imagine that electricity rates are going to soar in the winter.

DaveyDave

I know it takes a little while to switch providers but after switching to Airtricity recently I haven't even received a confirmation email. I'll probably ring them tomorrow just to confirm. Anyone switched recently?

fafy

I switched “online” in April, it took 6 weeks to switch over, even after multiple emails and phone calls, and i wouldn’t mind, i had read a few on here, saying - always do it by phone.

@mike 2006, if it was me, i would get the meter installed with old provider. FIRST, then, shop around after it is installed, for the day/night tarriff that suits your needs. I ordered one and it was installed in about 6 working days, its a 5 minute job installing it, also once you order the day/night rate meter, call ESB networks to make sure they have it on their system, and confirm date, as multiple people have reported, they ordered it but ESB networks - who actually do the meter installs, never received an order from the supplier.

and btw, you can’t be on day/night meter tarriff, until you have, a day/night meter

plasterman

Can someone clarify Energia's EV pricing structure. As the numbers on their site are contradictory in several different ways. I'm totally confused.

Standard rate + discount = no problem.

After the 3000/2000kWh limits are hit what happens. One page says 30.42c/kWh & 14.81c/kWh for high usage. The other page says 38.76c/kWh & 18.89c/kWh but also says the discount is pro-rated. The highest high-usage rate given of the 2 is lower than the standard rate so how can it be discounted pro-rata, unless the number given is the discounted unit rate of an absurdly high high-usage rate not given. Yet the 14.81c is on the main offer page and that's lower than the other number. Nor is the lower number the discounted rate of the higher number.

----

TLDR: what exactly will I be paying per unit after the high usage rate kicks in on the EV tariff.

----

Thanks.

Mike2006

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119516747#Comment_119516747

Thanks Fafy…

problem with ordering meter with current provider is that then I need to enter into a new 1 yr contract with them and their rate is not good….

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119516870#Comment_119516870

I'd say they have a typo in there alright.

I've been with them quite a few times and go over the high usage values and it has always been the case that you apply the normal discount that you have to the "higher usage rate" and its only a few c/kWh more than you'd normally pay. It was never an exorbitant rate when you go over.

I'd say the 4 values shown in the botton of your screenshot are the actual discounted rates you will pay. They've made it confusing alright though.

Redfox25

Try Energia, tell them you want to move to them but need the day night meter install.

I was with them and could get the meter installed 2 days after ringing them

fafy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119517317#Comment_119517317

I waited until my contract was up, requested the day/night meter, i left the contract roll, and it goes onto standard rates, when you do nothing, there is no obligation to sign up to anything with old supplier, you move onto standard rates, but its only temporary.

as soon as day/night meter was installed i moved supplier, the same day.

kennethsmyth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398367#Comment_119398367

You're entitled to ask for a day/night meter but if you have to put a smart meter back in later pay for it.

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119517837#Comment_119517837

I believe it's €180 to have it changed if you want it done a second time.

Mike2006

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119517719#Comment_119517719

Thanks for the tip - I just did this now - my current provider has placed the request for the day/night meter.

The standard rate (out of contract) is terrible with my current provider so I will be changing as soon as the meter is installed!

Day rate: 57.76c/kWh

Night rate: 27.99c/kWh

Standing charge (Rural) : €603.18

Diesel would be cheaper to run at those rates!

John arse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119520064#Comment_119520064

Who's that with?those numbers are nuts!🙈🙈🙈

mc2022B2TF

i was planning on using bord gais and their ev plan so charge from 2am to 5am religiously daily. But cant see those plans on their website anymore hmmmmmmmmmm

Mike2006

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119520957#Comment_119520957

Flogas

Core6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119521054#Comment_119521054

I recently signed up to their EV Plan.

I just looked at their site and it is still available. Go into 'Compare our plans' and then use the 'Filters' on the RHS to select Smart meter and EV. You will obviously have to have a Smart Meter but their rate for 2:00am - 5:00am is 5.97c per kWh.

cromelex

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119521054#Comment_119521054

I can still see it there, seems to have changed to 100% green electricity (it wasn't the case when we got the plan).

https://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/home/our-plans/a0p4L000000OeitQAC

The 2am-5am slot is enough to get around 23-24kWh into the car, which for me is 150-160km of range, meanig we don't even charge every night. 1€/100km that's costing us.

John arse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119521220#Comment_119521220

Jeez they're gas alright🤔!

celtic_oz

I'm on the Energia EV plan with a rural Day and night non smart meter.

I have solar - 6.2Kwp

Still managed to average 2.5KW per day of day rate ( during the best months of the year! )