Some 21,000 ESB customers throughout the State will have special 'smart meters' installed under a new national scheme to record and monitor energy use.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan today launched the National Smart Meter plan and letters will be sent to customers from today asking them to take part in the first phase of the scheme.
Up to 21,000 electricity customers will get a smart meter installed in their home for free under the behavioural and technology trial.
The next-generation meters will monitor and record the electricity used by the householder and when it is used.
This data is communicated directly to the electricity supply company.
By capturing the patterns of energy usage at different times of the day, smart meters provide the information necessary to make people aware of how much energy they are using.
Mr Ryan urged all customers who received a request to participate, to sign up.
"Through participating, individual consumers will have an opportunity to make a real contribution to our energy future. Being 'energy clever' as a consumer, a supply company and a nation is one of ways we can meet our energy and climate change challenges," he said.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is leading the implementation of the project.