Most Irish business owners glance at the total, wince, and pay. But your electricity bill contains a dozen line items, each driven by different factors — and errors on any one of them can cost you hundreds or thousands of euros per year. Billing issues are the number one complaint category with the CRU, Ireland's energy regulator. If you don't understand what you're paying for, you can't spot when you're paying too much.
Here's a plain-English breakdown of every charge on your business electricity bill.
Unit rates: what you pay per kilowatt-hour
The unit rate is the cost per kWh of electricity you actually use. It's the biggest variable on your bill and the number most people focus on when comparing suppliers.
Unit rates depend on your consumption volume, meter type, and contract terms, and vary by supplier and by whether you're on a standard or negotiated contract — there's no single figure that applies across the market.
Your bill will show separate day and night rates if you have a day/night meter. Some larger meters also have a peak rate (typically 17:00–19:00) that's higher than the standard day rate. Check which rate applies to most of your consumption — if your business runs primarily during the day, the day rate matters most.
The unit rate includes both the wholesale energy cost and the supplier's margin. The wholesale component is broadly similar across suppliers; the margin is where competition happens.
Standing charges: the cost of being connected
The standing charge is a fixed daily fee you pay regardless of how much electricity you use. It covers your share of ESB Networks' distribution infrastructure and the supplier's own administration costs.
For small businesses on DG5 meters (non-maximum demand), the standing charge is €141.55 a year (about €0.39/day). Larger businesses on DG6 meters (maximum demand) pay €1,320.36 a year (about €3.62/day), plus a separate capacity charge of €49.28 per kVA of MIC per year. These are flat, published figures — not a range — and identical no matter which supplier you're with.
Standing charges are set by ESB Networks, not suppliers, and every supplier passes them through unchanged — they don't vary by who you're with. What varies is the unit rate. Many businesses overlook the standing and capacity charges when comparing deals; a supplier offering a slightly lower unit rate doesn't change either of these. Always compare on total annual cost.
_Source: ESB Networks DAC Statement of Charges, Revision 22 (effective 1 October 2025)._
DUoS charges: the distribution fee that catches businesses out
DUoS — Distribution Use of System — charges fund ESB Networks' distribution infrastructure. Rates are published by ESB Networks and approved by the CRU, with a new revision typically taking effect each 1 October, and passed through on your bill by your supplier.
Your DUoS band determines how much you pay. The key bands for businesses are:
- DG5 (Low Voltage Non-Domestic, Non-Maximum Demand): Standing charge of €141.55/year, unit rate of 6.5 c/kWh (24hr) or 7.6 c/kWh day / 0.9 c/kWh night
- DG6 (Low Voltage Non-Domestic, Maximum Demand): Standing charge of €1,320.36/year, plus €49.28 per kVA of MIC per year, with lower unit rates of 3.9 c/kWh day / 0.5 c/kWh night
- DG7 and above: Medium and high voltage connections with progressively lower unit rates but higher fixed charges
MIC: the capacity charge you might be overpaying
MIC — Maximum Import Capacity — is the maximum electrical demand in kVA that ESB Networks will deliver to your premises. It affects your DUoS capacity charges, your PSO levy, and your DUoS band assignment.
Here's the problem: if your business inherited a previous tenant's MIC setting, or if you've downsized operations without requesting a reduction, you're paying for capacity you don't use. The capacity charge at DG6 is €49.28 per kVA per year. A business with MIC set at 200 kVA but actual maximum demand of only 80 kVA overpays by roughly €5,914 per year in unnecessary capacity charges alone — plus excess PSO levy charges on top.
If your actual demand exceeds your MIC, you face excess capacity penalties of 5–6 times the normal rate. So the setting needs to be right, not just low. Changing your MIC requires an NC3 form submission to ESB Networks.
PSO levy: funding Ireland's renewable energy
The PSO (Public Service Obligation) levy funds renewable energy generation in Ireland through the REFIT and RESS schemes. It's calculated based on your MIC level.
Small businesses with MIC under 30 kVA currently pay €5.65 per month (rate effective 1 December 2025 – 30 September 2026). Medium and large businesses pay €0.70 per kVA of MIC per month over the same period — so a business with 200 kVA MIC faces PSO charges of around €1,680 per year at the current rate. From 1 October 2026, the rate falls to €1.93 per month for small businesses and €0.24 per kVA for medium/large. The levy is set by the CRU and revised annually, so check the current rate is being applied on your bill.
_Source: CRU, Public Service Obligation Levy 2025/26 (Decision CRU2025108, 31 July 2025, revised rates effective 1 December 2025) and Public Service Obligation Levy 2026/27 (decision published 29 July 2026)._
Meter readings: estimated vs actual
Your bill is based on meter readings, but not all readings are equal. ESB Networks targets four actual reads and two estimated reads per year for standard meters. Readings on your bill are marked:
- A — Actual reading (ESB Networks read the meter)
- E — Estimated reading (calculated based on historical usage)
- C — Customer-submitted reading
Submit your own readings regularly if your meter isn't being read. Most suppliers accept customer readings through their online portal.
Your MPRN: the number that identifies everything
Your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is the unique 11-digit number assigned to your premises. It appears on every bill, never changes regardless of supplier, and is the key identifier you need for switching, getting quotes, or resolving disputes. Keep it to hand.
How to spot errors on your bill
Armed with this knowledge, here's what to check: Is your DUoS group (DG number) correct for your connection? Is your MIC set appropriately for your actual demand? Are your readings actual or estimated? Is the current PSO levy rate being applied? Are your unit rates matching what's in your contract?
If anything looks wrong — or if you just want a second opinion — send us your bill. Our account management service reviews bills like this for free and chases suppliers on your behalf. Or skip straight to the numbers and check your rate against the market now.