How is my tariff made up?
Each domestic tariff is composed of three elements:
Standing Charge
The standing charge covers the upkeep of the network necessary to bring supply to your home, together with the cost of reading the meter, issuing and processing the bills, etc. These costs have to be met irrespective of the amount of electricity used.
Different standing charges apply to urban and rural customers.
A small additional standing charge applies where a second meter is installed for electric storage heating.
Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy
The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy relates to the purchase by ESB of the output of certain peat generated electricity, in the interests of security of supply, and the output of certain generating stations using renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy, in the interests of environmental protection, in accordance with a PSO order made by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The PSO levy appears as a separate line item on all customers bills.
From 1st October 2010 the PSO levy has been set to the following rates (Ex VAT):
Domestic Customers: €32.76/ annum or €2.73/month.
Small Commercial Customers (MIC less than 30 kVA (Kilovolt amperes = voltage x current (amperage)) €99.03/annum or €8.25/month.
Unit Charge
The unit charge relates to the amount of electricity you use. The amount of electricity used is recorded in "units" each of which is equivalent to 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour, and is known as kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Under the ‘Standard’ tariff, a separate unit charge applies to Night Storage Heating.