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Back to Press Releases 16 January 2019

ESB Networks announces tenderers for 1st phase of national meter replacement programme

  • Key contracts awarded for next generation electricity meters

16 January 2019

ESB Networks has announced the results of three major tenders which will pave the way for a programme upgrading electricity meters to modern smart ready technology as a key part of the drive to combat climate change. The upgrade will enable smart electricity services from 2021 bringing benefits to the environment, the consumer and the economy.

The tenders announced today deal with:

  • The purchase of modern meters and the supporting technical infrastructure
  • Framework installation contracts to support the replacement of meters by ESB Networks
  • The selection of a communications network

Paddy Hayes, Managing Director of ESB Networks said, “The upgrade to modern electricity meters is an important enabler of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. To tackle climate change, the meter upgrade programme is an essential foundation to maximising the benefit from Ireland’s growing renewable generation capability and supporting the electrification of transport and heat – using clean electricity to displace carbon fuels.

"Working closely with the energy supply companies, ESB Networks plans to deliver this important programme over six years, so that all electricity customers can be part of the sustainable energy future.” 

Work on the upgrade programme is being carried out by ESB Networks in close co-operation with the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and all electricity supply companies. 

Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities said: “Today’s announcement is another step on the journey to enable electricity suppliers to offer smart energy services to customers and will support the migration to a low carbon electricity system.  Smart meters will also help customers make more informed choices about their consumption, give customers accurate and regular information on their electricity usage and ensure no more estimated bills.”

Paddy Hayes continued: “ESB Networks has always replaced meters on a routine rolling basis. By its nature, this programme is different as it will be concentrated over six years, starting later in 2019. The initial focus will be on replacing older meters and we will give plenty of notice on when we are planning your replacement.”  

ENDS
Media Enquiries: Grainne Burns, ESB Press Officer @ 087-9536640 

Notes:

  1. The tender for the provision of meters and supporting technical infrastructure has been awarded to a consortium comprising Siemens Ireland and Kamstrup A/S.
  2. The successful tender[er]s for installation service framework contracts are TLI Group Limited, KN Network Services (Ire) Limited, MD Electrical Installations Limited.
  3. The contract for the provision of the communications network has been awarded to Three Ireland Limited.
  4. This is the first phase of a programme that will continue through to 2024.
  5. The upgrade programme calls for 250,000 smart meters to be installed by the end of 2020 and about 500,000 meters in each of the four subsequent years.
As Gaeilge 

Na forthairgeoirí ar éirigh leo i gcéim a haon den chlár náisiúnta athraithe méadar fógartha ag ESB Networks

  • Na príomhchonarthaí maidir le méadair leictreachais na chéad ghlúine eile bronnta

16 Eanáir 2019

Tá an toradh a bhí ar thrí ollthairiscint a réiteoidh an bealach do chlár a dhéanfaidh méadair leictreachais a uasghrádú go dtí méadair nua-aimseartha atá ullamh don teicneolaíocht chliste mar chuid den fheachtas chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar athrú aeráide fógartha ag ESB Networks. Faoin uasghrádú sin, cuirfear seirbhísí leictreachais chliste ar fáil ón mbliain 2021 agus rachaidh na seirbhísí sin chun tairbhe an chomhshaoil, an tomhaltóra agus an gheilleagair.

Baineann na tairiscintí a fógraíodh inniu le:

  • Méadair nua-aimseartha agus an bonneagar teicniúil agus an bonneagar teicniúil a théann leo a cheannach1
  • Creatchonarthaí suiteála chun tacú le ESB Networks na méadair a athrú2
  • Líonra cumarsáide a roghnú3

Dúirt Paddy Hayes, Bainisteoir Stiúrtha ESB Networks, “Tá an t-uasghrádú chuig méadair leictreachais nua-aimseartha ina chuid tábhachtach de Phlean Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide na hÉireann. Chun dul i ngleic le hathrú aeráide, tá an clár uasghrádaithe méadar ina bhunchloch thábhachtach chun go mbeifear ábalta an tairbhe is fearr agus is féidir a bhaint as cumas giniúna fuinnimh in-athnuaite na hÉireann, cumas atá ag neartú, agus tacú le leictriú i gcúrsaí iompair agus teasa - ag úsáid leictreachas glan chun breoslaí carbóin a chur as áit.

"Tá sé i gceist ag ESB Networks, a bheidh ag obair go dlúth le cuideachtaí soláthair fuinnimh, an clár tábhachtach seo a chur ar fáil thar thréimhse sé bliana, chun go mbeidh gach custaiméir leictreachais ábalta a bheith páirteach i dtodhchaí an fhuinnimh inbhuanaithe."  

Is iad ESB Networks, a bheidh ag comhoibriú go dlúth leis an Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil, leis an gCoimisiún um Rialáil Fóntas, le hÚdarás Fuinnimh Inmharthana na hÉireann, agus gach cuideachta soláthair fuinnimh, a bheidh i mbun na hoibre ar an gclár uasghrádaithe. 

Dúirt an Coimisinéir Aoife MacEvilly ón gCoimisiún um Rialáil Fóntas: Is céim eile chun cinn ar an turas chun go mbeidh sé ar chumas na soláthraithe leictreachais seirbhísí fuinnimh chliste a chur ar fáil do chustaiméirí é fógra an lae inniu agus tacófar chomh maith leis an aistriú chuig córas leictreachais ísealcharbóin.  Cuideoidh na méadair chliste freisin le custaiméirí roghanna níos eolasaí a dhéanamh maidir leis an méid leictreachais a úsáideann siad, tabharfar eolas níos cruinne agus níos rialta do chustaiméirí ar an méid leictreachais a úsáideann siad agus cinnteofar nach mbeidh aon bhillí atá measta ann níos mó."

Dúirt Paddy Hayes freisin: "Rinne ESB Networks na méadair a athrú i gcónaí ar bhonn atrátha rialta. Tá an clár seo difriúil mar go mbeidh sé á chur i bhfeidhm thar thréimhse sé bliana. Cuirfear tús leis sin níos deireanaí in 2019. Díreofar ar dtús ar na seanmhéadair a athrú agus tabharfaimid neart fógra duit maidir leis an uair a mbeidh sé i gceist againn do mhéadar a athrú."  

CRÍOCH

Tabhair ar aird:

  1. Bronnadh an tairiscint maidir le méadair agus an bonneagar teicniúil a théann leo a chur ar fáil ar chuibhreannas atá comhdhéanta de Siemens Ireland agus Kamstrup A/S.
  2. Is iad TLI Group Limited, KN Network Services (Ire) Limited agus MD Electrical Installations Limited na forthairgeoirí ar éirigh leo na creatchonarthaí seirbhísí suiteála a bhaint amach.
  3. Bronnadh an conradh chun an líonra cumarsáide a chur ar fáil ar Three Ireland Limited.
  4. Is í seo an chéad chéim de chlár a leanfaidh ar aghaidh go dtí an bhliain 2024.
  5. Faoin gclár uasghrádaithe, táthar ag iarraidh 250,000 méadar chliste a shuiteáil faoi dheireadh na bliana 2020 agus tuairim is 500,000 méadar in aghaidh na bliana sna ceithre bliana ina dhiaidh sin.