Customers claimed their meters indicated they owed thousands in bills for just a few days of useRuairi Scott Byrne, Daire Fitton Senior Reporter and Erica Carter
18:21, 28 Mar 2026
DUBLIN, IRELAND – FEBRUARY 15
A view of the ESB Networks logo on a ESB van in Dublin city center, Ireland on February 15, 2023. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Customers of several popular electricity suppliers got the shock of their lives after opening their bills, as a technical fault led households to be told they’d consumed thousands of euros’ worth of energy over just a few days.
The issue was reported by customers contracted with Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, and Energia earlier this month, with many taking to social media to air their grievances. Multiple users said their smart meters showed they owed thousands of euros, with some even reaching the five-figure mark.
ESB Networks is responsible for managing smart meter operations, and a spokesperson for the company confirmed that the problem stemmed from an internal software malfunction that led to the transmission of inaccurate data between March 6 and 8.
“This is an internal software issue and is not related to the integrity of smart meters or the recorded energy use,” the spokesperson said. “We are in the process of identifying and resolving the issue in our systems and will systematically correct all affected data.”
ESB have now acknowledged that rectifying normal information for a portion of impacted customers is proving “longer than originally anticipated.”
ESB Networks told the Irish Independent: “On Friday, March 6, a planned software upgrade to an ESB Networks internal system caused some customers’ meter readings to be processed incorrectly, causing high and incorrect usage figures to be sent to all suppliers and to be displayed in customers’ ESB Networks online account.” The organisation stated that “more than 99pc of the affected customers’ usage data has now been corrected and we are aware that some suppliers have commenced billing”.
“It is taking longer than we originally anticipated to restore normal information for the last 0.5pc,” they added. “When ESB Networks has completed the data correction for the remaining customers, that corrected data will be provided to suppliers.”
However, despite the disruption, they have confirmed that no compensation will be offered to those affected.
“While we understand the inconvenience caused, compensation does not apply in this circumstance,” they confirmed in their statement.
Smart metres are designed to enable customers to access comprehensive information and analysis of their energy consumption directly via the ESB Networks online portal. Approximately four in five households have had a smart meter fitted.