A plan to implement peak electricity pricing should see companies push to move consumers to smart meters and tariffs.

The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has said peak pricing will see a 10% rise in network charges between 5.00pm and 7.00pm.

While this will be offset by lower charges during off-peak periods.

The CRU said this approach is "in alignment with the draft European Commission Emergency Regulation currently in development and our National Energy Security Framework."

Muireann Lynch is an energy economist and senior research officer with the ESRI.

She told Newstalk Breakfast this could see customers better off.

"I think they were particularly concerned about businesses that couldn't really shift their demand at all.

"The idea is that if you can't shift your demand at all then you're no better, no worse.

"Whereas if you can shift your demand, now you have an incentive to do so".

She said the difference it will make depends on your supplier.

"This is in terms of the network charge, which only makes up about 30% of our bills - it comes out at kind of like a 10% differential.

"But the real question is how are suppliers going to pass that on to us, the final consumers?

"If you're on a smart meter, I imagine what they'll do first and foremost is they will change their smart tariffs.

"So that means that the extra high cost for consuming electricity between 5 qand 7 might go up a bit - but the cost for consuming electricity outside of that will come down."

However she said for those not on a smart meter or smart tariff, the plan isn't so simple.

"I'm not too sure how a supply company will pass this levy on, or will pass this differential in tariffs on.

"Probably what they're just going to have to do is smear the cost over everybody.

"So what it really means is the supply company has a real incentive now to get people onto smart tariffs.

"So hopefully, they will come out with smart tariffs that give people a real incentive to move to them".

The new tariffs and charges are expected to be in place from October 1st.