What Are Standing Charges for Electricity in Ireland

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.

An electricity standing charge is a fixed daily fee that covers the maintenance and upkeep of the electricity network and is charged to customers on an annual basis by electricity suppliers. It is a fixed and is subject to VAT. The cost of your electricity standing charge will depend on multiple factors including, whether you live in an urban or rural area, the type of meter you have, and the amount set by your electricity provider.

What Is an Electricity Standing Charge?

An electricity standing charge is a fixed daily fee on your bill, separate from your energy usage.

In essence, it is a type of 'rental fee' charged by your electricity supplier so that your home can access the electricity network.

While your electricity supplier collects the standing charge, it is then used to pay the ESB for network maintenance operations, including:

• Infrastructure upkeep
• Grid connection
• Meter readings
• Administrative expenses

How Much Are Electricity Standing Charges?

Standing charges are a fixed cost and are not influenced by your electricity consumption. They are advertised as a yearly amount but are broken down into 6 payments as per each bi-monthly electricity bill.

While an electricity standing charge is a fixed fee, the amount one customer's pays can be different to that of another depending on factors such as:

• Location (Urban vs. Rural):
  Rural customers often face higher standing charges due to the increased costs of maintaining infrastructure in less densely populated areas.
• Meter Type:
  Different electricity meters, such as 24hr meters, and night saver meters, have different costs and will vary from supplier to supplier.
• Supplier Variations:
  Different electricity suppliers will charge different amounts, and therefore it is always recommended to compare the cost of standing charges when switching supplier and not just their unit rates.

Which Supplier Has the Cheapest Electricity Standing Charge?

Bord Gais has the cheapest electricity standing charge with their urban, 24hr standing charge costing €218.54.

It's important not to only look at the standing charge of a supplier when switching electricity suppliers and instead focus on all variables, including:

• Unit rates
• Cashback offer
• Online reviews
• Payment methods

Below you'll find a full breakdown of the standing charges prices per supplier:

⚡ Electricity Standing Charges Prices per Supplier

Supplier	Meter Type	Urban	Rural
	24hr	€218.54	€274.34
	Night Saver	€287.36	€356.02
	Smart	€218.54	€274.34
	24hr	€236.61	€300.90
	Night Saver	€296.40	€377.06
	Smart	€236.61	€300.90
	24hr	€250.76	€314.94
	Night Saver	€328.54	€400.48
	Smart	€250.76	€314.94
	24hr	€219.22	€278.90
	Night Saver	€247.94	€335.83
	Smart	€235.77	€296.40
	24hr	€257.37	€313.86
	Night Saver	€331.29	€422.20
	Smart	€237.20	€289.32
	24hr	€240.98	€302.49
	Night Saver	€309.57	€377.00
	Smart	€240.98	€302.49
	24hr	€302.37	€334.19
	Night Saver	€302.37	€334.19
	Smart	€302.37	€334.19
	24hr	€238.71	€278.50
	Night Saver	€238.71	€278.50
	Smart	€238.71	€278.50
	24hr	€258.60	€334.19
	Night Saver	€258.60	€334.19
	Smart	€258.60	€334.19
	24hr	€342.67	€447.82
	Night Saver	€456.29	€538.57
	Smart	€342.67	€447.82
	24hr	€283.47	€313.78
	Night Saver	€308.93	€382.37
	Smart	€283.47	€283.47
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*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and include VAT.
Last updated: April 2025

Do Smart Meters Have Electricity Standing Charges?

Smart meters also have standing charges, but these are typically less expensive than those of 24hr meter or night saver meters.

There are a number of reasons why smart meter standing charges are often cheaper:

• Reduced Manual Meter Readings:
  Traditional meters require manual readings, which involve ESB workers visiting each property. 
  Smart meters, on the other hand, transmit readings automatically, eliminating the need for these manual visits, thus lowering operational expenses for energy suppliers.
• More Accurate Billing:
  Smart meters provide precise, real-time data on energy consumption, and eliminate the need for estimated bills.
  This accuracy streamlines billing processes and reduces the administrative overhead associated with correcting billing errors.
• Time-of-Use Tariffs:
  Smart tariffs incentivize customers to use power at off-peak times. This helps to balance the load on the power grid. This balancing of the power grid, reduces costs for the network as a whole.

Where Do I Find Electricity Standing Charges on my Bill?

Typically, the standing charge is listed as a separate line item, often found within the detailed breakdown of your charges. It's usually shown after the section detailing your electricity usage (kWh).

You'll normally see it presented as a daily rate, and then that daily rate multiplied by the number of days in your billing cycle.

The graphic below shows the standing charge as part of the calculation section, which is the same for most suppliers:

If you have an online account with your electricity provider, you can regularly find a detailed breakdown of your bill, which will clearly show the standing charge.

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.