Energia Microgeneration Rate 2026

Energia currently pays 18.5c per kWh for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid. That rate is live on the Energia website now and sits mid-table in a market that has bunched up considerably — level with Bord Gáis Energy, Flogas and Pinergy (all 18.5c), and a single cent below Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity, who pay the most among the large suppliers at 19.5c. Community Power pays the highest standard rate at 20c. Pinergy used to pay 25c and was clear of the field; it cut to 18.5c on 1 August 2026, which removed the only standard rate worth switching supplier for. It applies to Energia electricity customers who have a registered microgeneration device and a smart meter installed. Payment arrives as a credit on your bi-monthly electricity bill.

How Energia’s Rate Compares

Energia’s 18.5c/kWh is a mid-table rate in a market that currently spans 15.89c to 20c for standard tariffs (plus a premium 32c/kWh first-year route via SSE Airtricity’s Activ8 scheme for those who install through an approved partner installer). It matches Bord Gáis Energy, Flogas and Pinergy on the headline rate, but Energia pays more frequently than Bord Gáis — every two months rather than quarterly. With the whole standard market inside a 4.1c band, how often you are paid and what else comes with the plan now matter more than the export rate itself.

Rates as of 12 September 2026 from direct supplier pages and the Switcher.ie microgeneration comparison. Rates are variable and subject to change; check supplier websites before switching. Full comparison: best microgeneration rates in Ireland.

On a typical 4 kWp system that exports around 1,400 kWh per year, Energia’s 18.5c rate earns you roughly €259 per year. At Electric Ireland or SSE Airtricity’s 19.5c, the same system earns €273 per year — a difference of €14 annually, or about €140 over ten years. Until 1 August 2026 that comparison was worth €91 a year, because Pinergy paid 25c; its cut to 18.5c closed the gap. Your export rate comes from whoever supplies your electricity, so moving for a better one means a full electricity switch, and a €14 annual difference is rarely reason enough on its own to do that.

Who Qualifies for Energia’s Microgeneration Payment

Energia can only pay customers whose electricity import and export are both with Energia. If you generate to the grid but buy your electricity from Electric Ireland, SSE Airtricity, Pinergy, or anyone else, you register for CEG with that supplier — not Energia. Energia does not currently pay CEG to non-customers, so you would need to switch your import account to Energia to earn its 18.5c rate.

Beyond being an Energia customer, you need:

• A microgenerator — most commonly solar PV, though micro-wind and other small renewable systems also qualify
• An export grid connection, registered via an NC6 form submitted to ESB Networks (usually done by your installer at the time of installation)
• A smart meter installed by ESB Networks — required to record your exported units. Without one, payment falls back to a less accurate deemed-export estimate

How and When Energia Pays You

Once your NC6 form is processed and your smart meter is installed, ESB Networks notifies Energia and sends your export data. You don’t need to contact Energia to trigger this. From there, a Clean Export Guarantee credit appears on your bi-monthly electricity bill, reflecting the kWh you exported in that period at the 18.5c rate.

A few practical details:

• Credit, not cash: The CEG payment is applied as a credit on your Energia invoice rather than paid into your bank account. There is no separate export account — it appears on your existing electricity bill
• Billing timing: Energia notes that the export period shown on your bill can occasionally differ from your import period because of when ESB Networks delivers the data. Any export days missed in one bill are picked up on the next
• No export cap: With a smart meter there is no limit on how much surplus electricity you can export and be paid for
• Variable rate: The 18.5c rate can change. If it drops and a competitor pays more, you can register your export with a different supplier — though with Energia that means moving your import account too, since it requires both to be with them

Tax on Energia 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. Budget 2027 announced a rise to €600, with the start date to be set in Finance (No. 2) Bill 2026. For most homeowners with a standard 3–5 kWp system, the annual CEG income from Energia at 18.5c will fall below or close to that threshold, so no tax is due. Income above €400 is declared on your annual tax return.

The €400 exemption applies per individual, not per household, device or supplier. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to tax on solar export income in Ireland.

How to Start Receiving CEG Payments from Energia

If you are already an Energia electricity customer and have solar panels with a registered NC6 form, you may already be set up — check your recent bills for a microgeneration or export credit line. If you have panels but no credit has appeared after a couple of billing cycles, contact Energia to confirm ESB Networks has shared your export data with them.

If you are planning a new solar installation:

1. Choose an SEAI-registered installer. They submit the NC6 form to ESB Networks as part of the job
2. ESB Networks processes the form and arranges a smart meter where needed
3. Make sure both your electricity import and export are with Energia, then Energia begins crediting your bill once export data arrives
4. Apply for the SEAI solar PV grant (currently up to €1,800) through the installer at the same time — see what the 2026 grant covers

Frequently Asked Questions