If you have solar panels on the roof, you are not just cutting your own bill, you are also selling power back to the grid. With electricity prices up again since 1 July, it is worth a few minutes to make sure you are getting the most from every unit, both at home and exported. Here is how, plus a quick summer checklist before you head off on holiday.
Are you on the best export rate?
Solar grants get all the attention, but the money you earn after the panels go up matters just as much. Every unit you do not use at home is exported to the grid under the Clean Export Guarantee, and you are paid for it.
- Export rates are worth 15 to 32 cent a unit depending on your supplier, so it pays to know where yours sits.
- The first €400 a year of export income is tax-free until 2028.
- Rates move: Electric Ireland pays 19.5 cent, and Pinergy is dropping its rate on 1 August 2026, so if you are on a good one it is worth locking it in.
- You do not need a new grant or new panels to benefit. If you already have solar and a smart meter you are likely already earning, so check your bill for the export credit.
Use your own sunshine first
Earning for exported power is good, but using it yourself is better. A unit you use at home saves you the full retail price, which is higher since 1 July, while an exported unit earns only the lower export rate. The trick in summer is to shift your heavy usage into the sunny hours.
- In July your panels generate most in the middle of the day, so run the dishwasher, washing machine and immersion then rather than late at night.
- A timer or Wi-Fi time switch makes it automatic, lining the big loads up with your own free electricity.
- It costs nothing to try, and it stacks with everything else: the less you import, the less the price rise stings.
Going away this summer? Five minutes before you lock up
July is holiday season, so before you head off, a few small electrical jobs keep the house safe and stop it costing you money while it sits empty.
- Put a couple of lights on a timer or Wi-Fi switch so the house looks lived-in while you are away.
- Check your security lights and any camera or doorbell are working before you go. A motion light over the door is a cheap, effective deterrent.
- Switch off the immersion and unplug standby loads (TV, chargers, consoles) so you are not powering an empty house.
- Leave a key with someone who can call in, and hold off announcing the trip on social media until you are home.
Free delivery from the first euro on everything in store.
Has The Current been useful? Please leave us a review
A quick review on Trustpilot helps other Irish homeowners find a supplier they can trust, and it genuinely helps a small local business like ours. It takes about 30 seconds and it means a lot.
Review us on TrustpilotAbout Shamrock Electrical Supplies
Shamrock Electrical Supplies is an electrical retailer and wholesaler based in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. We supply homeowners and professional contractors across Ireland, with free delivery from the first euro.
Find Us
Shamrock Electrical Supplies
Unit 22, Block 613, Jordanstown Road
Greenogue Business Park
Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, D24 TX98
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday: 7am to 5:30pm
Friday: 7am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 1:30pm
Sunday: Closed