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How to read a smart meter
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A smart meter has more options than older meters for seeing how much power you are using at different times of the day. Fortunately, all of this is controlled by a single button, so the controls are not complicated.
Default display screen
The main display screen of your smart meter, without pressing any buttons, will show you the total amount of electricity you have used. This is a combined total across all times, shown in kilowatt hours (kWh).
Simply read the display from left to right, including all digits, to get your total electricity usage.
When you are on the main screen, showing your total electricity usage, it should show A+ in the top right corner of the screen.
Switching between displays
There is one main button on your smart meter which is used to switch the display between the following outputs.
- Main 24hr reading (default and press twice)
- Date & time (press once)
- Night usage reading (press three times)
- Day usage reading (press four times)
- Peak usage reading (press five times)
- Screen test (press six times)
- Electricity export reading (press seven times)
Date & time screen
If you press the button once it will take you from the main screen of the smart meter to the date and time. Pressing the button a second time will bring you back to the main screen before going on to any of the other displays.
Day, night, and peak electricity usage
You can also use a smart meter to see your electricity usage in day, night, and peak time of use categories.
- Night usage: Press the button three times to bring this up. It should say A+T1 in the top right corner
- Day usage: Press the button four times to bring this up. It should say A+T2 in the top right corner.
- Peak usage: Press the button five times to bring this up. It should say A+T3 in the top right corner.
Electricity exports
If you have solar panels, or another microgeneration system connected to your home then you may want to ensure you are being paid properly for electricity exports.
Push the button seven times to bring up your electricity export reading. You should see A- in the right hand corner of the screen.
Taking meter readings
There is no need to take manual meter readings from a smart meter. The meter will automatically transmit usage data at the time intervals it is configured for.
Use your ESB Networks online account
If you have a smart meter installed you can also view all of your usage data in even more detail by creating an ESB Networks online account. This allows you to see your electricity usage broken down into 30-minute time slots.
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