Clean Export Guarantee: Supplier Rates and Rules in Ireland

Key Takeaways

• The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) ensures microgenerators in the Republic of Ireland are paid for surplus electricity exported to the grid.
• All licensed electricity suppliers with domestic customers are obligated to offer a CEG tariff, and rates must be above zero.
• Payments are based on actual smart meter readings or a deemed export formula if a smart meter is not yet installed.
• Installers must submit an NC6 form to ESB Networks at least 20 working days before connection.
• Microgenerators have the right to switch electricity suppliers to find more competitive CEG export rates.

Understanding Ireland's Clean Export Guarantee (CEG)

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) is a framework in the Republic of Ireland designed to ensure that microgenerators receive payments for surplus electricity they feed into the national grid. This scheme operates under the National Microgeneration Support Scheme and is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CEG framework applies across the Republic of Ireland, administered under CRU regulatory decisions.

The CEG's purpose is to enable microgenerators in Ireland to receive payments for surplus electricity fed into the grid. This means that if your solar panels generate more electricity than your home consumes, you will be compensated for the excess energy that benefits the wider electricity network.

How CEG Payments Work

All licensed electricity suppliers with domestic customers must provide a competitive CEG tariff reflecting wholesale market value. These CEG tariff rates are set commercially by each supplier but must always reflect market value and remain greater than zero. This ensures that microgenerators always receive some payment for their exported electricity, though the exact rate will vary between suppliers.

CEG payments are credited directly to the customer electricity bill or paid periodically via bank transfer depending on supplier terms. You will need to check with your chosen electricity supplier for their specific payment terms and frequency.

Smart Meters vs. Deemed Export

The method by which your exported electricity is measured and paid for depends on whether you have a smart meter installed:

• Smart Metered Export: Participants with a smart meter installed receive payments based on actual half-hourly metered export volumes. A smart meter accurately records the precise amount of electricity you export to the grid, ensuring you are paid for exactly what you contribute.
• Deemed Export: Customers awaiting a smart meter installation receive deemed export payments calculated using the standard CRU export profile formula. This means that until a smart meter is in place, your export is estimated based on a predefined calculation rather than actual readings.

Connecting Your Microgeneration System

Before connecting a microgeneration system, installers must submit an NC6 form to ESB Networks at least 20 working days prior to connection. This notification process ensures that the network operator is aware of the new connection and can manage the grid effectively.

The CEG framework supports various microgeneration capacities:

• Domestic single-phase connections are permitted up to 6kW inverter capacity under the standard ESB Networks NC6 process.
• Three-phase domestic connections are permitted up to 11kW inverter capacity under ESB Networks microgeneration rules.

Battery energy storage systems co-located with solar PV are eligible to participate under CEG export metering guidelines. This means that if you have a battery to store your solar energy, any surplus electricity exported from that battery is also eligible for CEG payments.

Your Right to Switch Suppliers

Microgenerators retain the freedom to switch electricity suppliers to access more competitive CEG export rates. Since CEG export rates are set independently by electricity suppliers and change periodically, it is advisable to compare offers from different providers to ensure you are getting the best possible return for your exported electricity.

You can find a list of licensed electricity suppliers and their current CEG tariffs by visiting the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) website or by checking the individual supplier websites. This allows you to actively manage your export income and choose the supplier that best meets your needs.

What the published sources do not tell you

The specific CEG export rates offered by individual electricity suppliers are not published by the CRU. Instead, these rates are set independently by electricity suppliers (e.g., Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, Energia, SSE Airtricity) and change periodically. This means you must consult each supplier directly for their current tariff information. The standard CRU export profile formula used for deemed export payments is also not detailed in the public information provided.