• Business Customers
• Moving into a premises
• Building a New Single Commercial / Industrial Unit
• When Moving Out
• Disconnecting Supply
• Increase or Decrease your Supply
• Unmetered Connections
• Farm Premises
• Underground Cable Locations
• Business Metering
  • Business Metering Overview
  • How to Read your Meter
  • Standard Meter
  • Day Night Meter
  • Wattless Meter
  • Electronic Meter A
  • Electronic Meter B
  • Move Meter Location
  • Meter Point Reference Number
• Voltage Problems
• Certification Process
• Existing Poles and Lines on a site
• FAQs

Business Metering Overview

This page explains how metering for large and small business customers is dealt with by ESB Networks.

Metering in smaller commercial and industrial premises

(Metering in large commercial and industrial premises is explained below)

For most commercial and some industrial premises, Non Quarter Hourly (NQH) metering is used. These meters have registers that are either mechanical or electronic in design. The actual equipment used depends on the Meter Configuration Code (MCC) of the installation.

Depending on the tariff, the majority of Non-Quarterly Hourly customers have one mechanical meter with one or two registers/displays. Alternatively they will have one electronic meter with a display capable of scrolling through multiple register readings, while larger customers may also have additional current transformers.
Find out how to read your meter

Multipliers for "Non-Quarterly Hourly" meters

For large, low voltage Non-Quarter Hourly customers, a current transformer must be used in conjunction with the meter.

Because the current transformer "steps down" the current which passes through the meter, it is necessary to introduce a multiplier in order to calculate the actual units consumed.

This multiplier is applied to the difference between the present and previous meter readings.

"Non-Quarter Hourly" meter reading policy

ESB Networks records six meter readings per year. Four of these are based on actual readings taken from your meter. Two are estimated based on previous consumption patterns.

What to do if we cannot read your "non-quarter hourly" meter

There will be times when ESB Networks will not be able to read your meter when scheduled. If you are not available when a Meter Reader calls, he/she will leave a card that invites you to submit the meter reading yourself. You may wish to do this to avoid receiving an estimated bill from your supplier.

In some cases, we may not have been able read your meter for a prolonged period. In such cases it is very important that you submit the reading yourself. Alternatively you can contact us to arrange a meter reading at CallSave 1850 372 757.

Submit a "non-quarter hourly" meter reading

CallSave 1850 337 777
Follow the automatic voice prompts.
(You will need a touch-tone telephone to key in the required information.)

Metering in larger commercial and industrial premises

For larger Commercial and Industrial consumers, Quarter Hourly (QH) metering is used. These meters record the electricity consumption for each 15 minute period during a day.

This typically means you will have one meter per circuit, as well as current and voltage transformers. For those with very large consumption, duplicate "check meters" may also be installed for backup purposes.

For Quarterly Hourly metering, please note that the 15 minute reading information is not available on the meter display. Instead the meter displays a cumulative (running) total on consumption for day and night. Find out how to read your meter

Multipliers for "Quarterly Hourly" meters

For Quarter Hourly customers, multipliers are also part of the calculations used to compute the billing information. Multipliers differ from site to site and are "built in" to the remote reading process.

"Quarter Hourly" meter reading policy

ESB Networks reads all quarter-hourly meters on a weekday basis, via a remote connection. After validation, these readings are passed to your supplier.

If ESB Networks has a problem reading the meters, a technician will visit your site to resolve any problems. He/she may also collect the readings manually, if deemed necessary.