How the new devices differ from the old
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OLD-style meters only measure the total electricity used over an entire billing period and have to be read manually, which often results in estimated bills.
Smart meters (pictured) can capture usage at different intervals during the day, and communicate the information from the customer to the power supplier. They can be read remotely, meaning there is no need for a meter reader to call to households.
Up to 60,000 households will be invited to take part in the first phase of the plan, with 6,000 homes to be fitted with the meters free of charge.
They will read usage in homes every half an hour, giving suppliers accurate billing information and time-of-use pricing.
This phase will run from July to December 2009.
The second stage will see another 15,000 homes fitted with meters, and will measure behavioural changes arising from the installation of the meters.
It will run from January to December 2010, and households taking part will get a €50 'thank you' payment.
Householders will initially be chosen to take part on a random basis and the savings will be theoretical initially. Within a few years, off-peak and on-peak charges will be introduced to help customers best decide when to use electricity.
After the second phase, a full roll-out of the system will take place where every home and business in the country will be fitted with the new meters.
While there is no charge for the trial, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is yet to decide if householders will pay for the meters when they're rolled out.
It is believed that savings will compensate for any charge.
