The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a decision for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff which outlines arrangements for implementation of the tariff, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. As part of this, the CRU decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis which must be reflective of the market, or wholesale, value of the electricity, in line with the requirements of Article 21(2)(d) of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).
CEG payments for exported quantities must be based on meter data, recorded on the Distribution System Operator’s (ESBN) smart meter, which is the meter for record for the purposes of metering and billing data. The National Smart Metering Programme will roll out and install 2.34 million meters by end of 2024 and in the process make available new products and services to energy consumers. It is co-ordinated by CRU with ESB Networks delivering the electricity meter rollout.
In line with the CRU decision paper for the CEG, microgenerators who are not yet eligible for a smart meter may be eligible to be remunerated under deemed export arrangements. For households currently with a day/night (MCC02) meter, export payments can be made to the household, based on a deemed export value. These conditions include alerting ESBN of their intention to install microgeneration using an NC6 or equivalent form and meeting the definitions for microgeneration laid out in REDII. Customers must also either have a meter type which is not eligible for smart meter installation or be eligible for smart meter installation but currently unable to have one installed due to circumstances outside of their control. Under these conditions a deemed quantity will be calculated by the ESBN.
It is important to note that ESBN are currently finalising plans to install smart meters which can be configured as day/night meters. This will enable a like-for-like exchange for customers who wish to retain the functionality of their current meter, while receiving remuneration for the precise value of their exported electricity. It is expected that these Smart Day/night meter exchanges will be available for day/night meter customers later in 2023.
