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====== What's the best / cheapest electricity supplier? ======

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I might just start charging a fee for every time I have to explain why that question is impossible to answer!
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Look, nobody can tell you what's 'best' because your house isn't the same as your neighbour's. Unless you're willing to share your daily shower habits, the exact size of your EV battery, your solar export stats, and whether you boil the kettle every five minutes, anyone giving you a 'best supplier' recommendation is just guessing. They're basically reading tea leaves.

Stop asking strangers to gamble with your bills. Here is the secret:

    * Go to the ESB Networks website and download your actual usage file for free.
    * Upload that file to Kilowatt or EnergyPal.
    * They'll crunch the numbers and tell you exactly which tariff fits your life, instead of listening to 'Brendan down the road' tell you why his deal is the best (when he's actually paying double).

**Stop relying on the village idiots and start looking at your own facts! Your wallet will thank you.**

===== Download your electricity usage data from ESB Networks =====

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You must have a smart meter installed and a registered online account.

==== Step-by-Step Guide ====

**1. Register or Log In:**
Visit the [[https://myaccount.esbnetworks.ie/|ESB Networks Online Account portal]].
If you do not have an account, you will need to register. You will need your MPRN (found on your electricity bill) and a mobile number.

**Important:** Your name and mobile number must match the details you provided to your electricity supplier, or you will be unable to link your MPRN to your account.

**2. Access Consumption Data:**
Once logged in, navigate to the "My energy consumption" section of your dashboard.

**3. Download Your Files:**
Click on the "Downloads" option.
You will see a list of available files, which may include:
    * 30-minute readings in kW
    * 30-minute readings in kWh
    * Daily snapshot of day/night/peak usage in kWh
    * Daily snapshot of total usage and export data (if you have microgeneration/solar panels)

Select the file you wish to download. The files are provided in a Harmonised Downloadable (HDF) format, which is a .csv file that can be opened in spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel.
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==== Important Tips ====

    * Data is updated regularly, but it may take 36-48 hours for new usage data to appear on your account.
    * **Do not open and save the HDF file into a different format** before uploading it to another site (such as a price comparison tool), as this may corrupt the file.
    * You can view up to two years of historical data, even if you have switched electricity suppliers during that time. However, you can only access data for a property while you are the registered customer of that MPRN.
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Once you have your HDF file, upload it to [[https://kilowatt.ie|Kilowatt.ie]] or [[https://energypal.ie|EnergyPal]] — they will tell you in 30 seconds which tariff is actually cheapest for *your* house. ☀
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