Electric Ireland currently pays 19.5c per kWh for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid. That rate is live on their website now and sits in the mid-range of Irish suppliers — above Bord Gáis Energy (18.5c) but below Pinergy (25c). It applies to residential Electric Ireland customers who have a registered microgeneration device and a smart meter installed. Payment arrives as a credit on your electricity bill each billing cycle.
- Rate: 19.5c per kWh (variable — can change with notice)
- Who qualifies: Electric Ireland electricity customers with a registered microgeneration device (solar PV, micro-wind, micro-hydro, or micro-CHP)
- Smart meter: Required. ESB Networks arranges one after your NC6 form is processed — usually within four months
- How paid: Credit on your electricity bill each billing cycle
- Estimated income: €50–€300 per year; roughly €150/year for a typical 10-panel system
- Tax: First €400/year is exempt from income tax until end of 2028
How Electric Ireland’s Rate Compares
Electric Ireland’s 19.5c/kWh is a mid-table rate in a market that currently spans 15.89c to 25c for standard tariffs (plus a premium 32c/kWh route via SSE Airtricity for those who install through an approved Activ8 partner installer in Year 1).
| Supplier | CEG Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pinergy | 25c/kWh | Highest standard rate; monthly payment; no installer restriction |
| SSE Airtricity (standard) | 19.5c/kWh | Standard rate; same as Electric Ireland |
| Electric Ireland | 19.5c/kWh | Current rate as of June 2026; variable |
| Energia | ~18c/kWh | Confirm directly; rate subject to change |
| Bord Gáis Energy | 18.5c/kWh | Quarterly payment (smart meter); 6-monthly (deemed) |
| Yuno Energy / Prepay Power | 15.89c/kWh | Lowest standard rate on the market |
| SSE Airtricity (Activ8 premium) | 32c/kWh Year 1, 27c Year 2+ | Must install via an approved Activ8 partner installer; not available to all |
Rates as of May–June 2026 from direct supplier pages. Rates are variable and subject to change; check supplier websites before switching. Full comparison: CEG rates in Ireland.
On a typical 4 kWp system that exports around 1,400 kWh per year, Electric Ireland’s 19.5c rate earns you roughly €273 per year. At Pinergy’s 25c rate, the same system earns €350 per year — a difference of €77 annually, or €770 over ten years. Your electricity supplier for export does not have to be the same as your import supplier, so it is worth checking rates before you register for CEG.
Who Qualifies for Electric Ireland’s Microgeneration Payment
Electric Ireland can only pay customers who buy their electricity from Electric Ireland. If you supply to the grid but your import supplier is SSE Airtricity, Pinergy, or anyone else, you register for CEG with that supplier — not Electric Ireland. This is a common point of confusion because ESB Networks (which runs the grid) has a separate name from Electric Ireland (a supplier), despite the apparent connection.
Beyond supplier eligibility, you need:
- A registered microgeneration device — solar PV, micro-wind, micro-hydro, or micro-CHP. Most homeowners have solar PV
- An NC6 form submitted to ESB Networks, typically done by your installer at the time of installation
- A smart meter installed where technically possible (see below). If a smart meter cannot be installed for technical reasons, Electric Ireland will pay using a deemed export estimate instead
How and When Electric Ireland Pays You
Once your NC6 form is processed and your smart meter is installed, Electric Ireland receives your export readings from ESB Networks. You don’t contact Electric Ireland to trigger this — they are notified automatically once the NC6 is in the ESB Networks system. From there, a CEG credit appears on each electricity bill, reflecting the kWh you exported in that billing period at the 19.5c rate.
A few practical details:
- Backdating: If there is a gap between when your system went live and when the smart meter was installed, your first credit includes a backdated payment to cover the period from your registration date
- Viewing your export: Electric Ireland shows your exported units on your bill. You can also see export data through your ESB Networks online account by pressing the left blue button on your smart meter seven times until “A-” appears on screen
- Deemed export: If a smart meter cannot technically be installed at your property, Electric Ireland will contact you directly to discuss payment using a deemed export estimate instead
- Variable rate: The 19.5c rate can change. Electric Ireland is required to notify you before any change takes effect. If their rate drops significantly, you can switch CEG supplier without switching import supplier
Tax on Electric Ireland CEG Payments
Microgeneration export income is taxable in Ireland, but the first €400 per year is exempt under a Revenue disregard that applies until the end of 2028. For most homeowners with a standard 3–5 kWp system, the annual CEG income from Electric Ireland at 19.5c will fall below or close to that threshold anyway — Electric Ireland estimates €50–€300 per year depending on system size. Income above €400 is declared on your annual tax return.
The €400 exemption applies per household, not per device. If you have both solar PV and micro-wind, the combined export income is measured against the one €400 threshold. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to tax on solar export income in Ireland.
How to Start Receiving CEG Payments from Electric Ireland
If you are already an Electric Ireland electricity customer and have solar panels installed with a registered NC6 form, you may already be set up — Electric Ireland will have been notified through ESB Networks when the form was processed. Check your recent bills for a “Microgen credit” line. If you have panels but no credit has appeared after several billing cycles, contact Electric Ireland to confirm they received the NC6 notification.
If you are planning a new solar installation:
- Choose an SEAI-registered installer. They submit the NC6 form to ESB Networks as part of the job
- ESB Networks processes the form and arranges a smart meter if needed (four-month target)
- Electric Ireland is notified automatically and begins crediting your bill once export data is available
- Apply for the SEAI solar PV grant (currently up to €2,400) through the installer at the same time — see what the 2026 grant covers
We connect you with SEAI-registered solar installers in your area. They handle the NC6 form, the grant paperwork, and the smart meter registration — so export payments begin as quickly as possible. Free, no obligation.
Get Free Solar Quotes →Frequently Asked Questions
Electric Ireland’s current Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) rate is 19.5c per kWh (as of June 2026). This is the rate they pay residential customers for surplus solar electricity exported to the national grid. The rate is variable and can change with notice.
Electric Ireland estimates €50–€300 per year depending on system size, with a typical 10-panel installation earning around €150/year. For a 4 kWp system exporting roughly 1,400 kWh annually, the payment at 19.5c works out at approximately €273 per year. A larger 6 kWp system exporting around 2,000 kWh would earn approximately €390/year at the same rate.
In most cases, no. Once your installer submits the NC6 form to ESB Networks and a smart meter is installed, Electric Ireland is notified automatically and starts crediting your bill. If you have had panels for several billing cycles with no microgen credit appearing, contact Electric Ireland to confirm they received the NC6 notification — occasionally there is a processing delay.
No. Electric Ireland can only pay their rate to existing Electric Ireland electricity customers. If your import supplier is someone else (SSE Airtricity, Pinergy, etc.), you register for CEG with that supplier instead. You do not have to switch import supplier to access a different CEG rate — your export supplier can be different from your import supplier.
No. At 19.5c/kWh, Electric Ireland’s rate is mid-table. Pinergy pays the highest standard rate at 25c/kWh (available to any solar homeowner regardless of installer). SSE Airtricity pays 32c/kWh in Year 1 via their Activ8 scheme, but only for homeowners who install through an approved Activ8 partner installer. Over ten years on a typical 4 kWp system, switching from Electric Ireland to Pinergy for export would be worth roughly €770 more in CEG income. See the full CEG rate comparison.
Electric Ireland is required to give you advance notice before changing the rate. If they reduce the rate significantly, you can register for CEG with a different supplier — you do not need to switch your electricity import account to do so. The CEG rate you are paid is set by whoever you have registered for export payments with, not necessarily your import supplier.
Sources: Electric Ireland — Microgeneration for Homes (19.5c/kWh rate, €50–€300 annual estimate, smart meter requirement, NC6 process, billing credit); SolarQuotes Ireland — CEG Rate Comparison (competitor rates as of May–June 2026); Revenue.ie — Solar panels (€400 tax disregard to end of 2028). Rate verified directly from electricireland.ie on 13 June 2026.
Published: 13 June 2026. Author: Neil Russell.