Pay As You Go and Smarter Pay As You Go meters are a great way to manage your electricity and gas usage, but there are some things you need to be aware of to make sure you’re covered during a storm.
It’s important to keep your meter topped up to stay warm and comfortable during a storm. Top up your Pay As You Go or Smarter Pay As You Go meter immediately when you hear about a storm as outages may affect broadband and limit top-up options.
Here’s some advice to help you be prepared:
- GAS PAYG (anchor links to article section)
- Emergency Credit
- Credit Friendly Hours
- How to top up your PAYG and SPAYG meters
- Emergency Contacts
Gas PAYG
Please remember to top up your gas PAYG meter ahead of storms as topping up online isn’t possible.
Emergency Credit
If your credit runs out, for Smarter Pay As You Go customers €20 emergency credit is automatically added to your account. For normal Pay As You Go customers, you must silence the warning beep by pressing any button on the keypad first. €20 will be deducted automatically from your next top-up.
You’ll have to top up by over €20 to get any electricity as you will owe the €20 for the emergency credit. Emergency credit gives you time to top up as normal. The meter will automatically disconnect the power when emergency credit runs out
Credit Friendly Hours
Your meter will not disconnect during “Credit Friendly” times:
Monday - Thursday | 5pm – 9am (late March to October), 4pm - 8am (late October to March) |
Friday – Monday | From 5pm on Friday until 9am on Monday. |
Holidays | 1st January, 17th March, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day & 31st December |
Other bank holidays | These are NOT Credit Friendly Days and you will lose power if you run out of emergency credit. |
How to top up your PAYG and SPAYG meters
Make sure your Pay As You Go meter is sufficiently topped up to stay warm and comfortable in a storm. There are several easy and flexible ways.
Pay As You Go meters
1) Payzone Outlets: Top up your credit in advance of the storm where you see the Payzone sign.
2) Top Up Online: Either once off or by registering with Payzone.
3) Top Up by text
Register your payment details with us. Then, you can top up by text. Text 'EI top up (amount)' to 53314. To top up by €10, text "EI topup 10" to 53314 and we'll text a top up code for your meter.
Smarter Pay As You Go meters
1) Over the Counter Top Up
In advance of the storm bring your card to any Payzone outlet and any top-up automatically goes to your meter. It is advised for your safety to stay indoors during the storm.
2) Top-up by text
Register your payment details with us and text 'EI top up (amount)' to 53314. To top up by €10, text "EI topup 10" to 53314, we'll text you a top up code and automatically credit your meter. Please ensure your phone battery is fully charged before the storm.
3) Scheduled Top-up
If you’re registered with Payzone online, you can set a top up every week or every month. For example, schedule a €20 top up on the Monday of each week.
4) Automatic Top-up
Registered customers can top up automatically by a set amount when credit drops below €10. This stops your meter running low and can be helpful during extended storms or cold weather.
5) Online Top-up
Smarter Pay As You Go customers can top up online. Registered customers can top up regularly with your stored details. Non registered customers can top up as many times as they like.
It’s recommended to register online with Payzone in advance of a storm. To do this you’ll need your keypad number, bank card details, your meter’s location and your email address.
Emergency storm contacts
- ESB Power Check website, Android App
- Report a fault to ESB Networks: Online / or call 1800 372 999
- For updates: See twitter @ElectricIreland or @ESBNetworks
