You are here: Home > Consumer > Utilities > Electricity Account Credit
- Introduction
- When will the credits be paid?
- Am I eligible for the credit?
- I use pre-pay electricity
- I have a sub-metered account
- Can I use the credit to pay off debt?
- Can I use the credit to pay my gas bill?
- I am in rented accommodation
- What if I switched suppliers?
- If I don’t get the credit
- More information
Introduction
It was announced in Budget 2024 that domestic electricity customers will get €450 off their electricity bills.
The energy credit will be paid in 3 instalments of €150. The payments will be made in the December 2023, January 2024 and February 2024 billing cycles.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is overseeing the scheme.
Text scam warning
A scam alert has been issued to warn people about receiving text messages that tell them to click on a link to claim an energy credit. These texts link to a site that looks like gov.ie.
The Government is not offering any such scheme and people are warned not to click on the link or enter any personal details.
When will the credits be paid?
The payment is automatic, and you do not need to apply for it.
The €450 credit was paid in 3 instalments of €150.
You get:
- The first credit between 1 December and 31 December 2023
- The second credit between 1 January and 29 February 2024
- The third credit between 1 March and 30 April 2024
The date you got your credit depends on the date that your supplier normally sends you your bill. The credit may not appear on your first bill during these payment periods, this depends on your individual billing cycle. Suppliers have information on their websites with the exact dates the credit is shown on customers’ bills.
You see a ‘credit line’ on your bill in the amount of €137.61 (this is €150 excluding VAT). The total payments are €412.84 across the 3 instalments.
It has the identifier ‘Government Electricity Credit 1, 2 or 3’ or an abbreviated version of this depending on your supplier (for example Govt. Credit). It must include “Government”, “Govt” or “Gov” and must state “1”, “2” or “3” to show which instalment you are getting.
Am I eligible for the credit?
You are eligible for the credit if you meet all these criteria:
- You are registered as either an urban domestic customer (classified as DG1) or a rural domestic customer (classified as DG2)
- You are registered with an electricity supplier in the Republic of Ireland and have a unique Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) – you can find this number on your bill
- You do not have a low usage electricity account – see below.
Low usage threshold
Properties with very low levels of use will not automatically get the credits.
The low usage threshold is where you use less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
The low usage threshold does not apply in the following cases:
- You are on, or are entitled to be on, the vulnerable customer register
- You have a hardship PAYG meter
- You have a microgeneration account
Can I get the credit for my holiday home?
The credit applies to every domestic electricity account that is not a low usage account. This means that if you have multiple homes in Ireland with a domestic electricity account you get the credit for each account
I use pre-pay electricity
Your supplier contacts you by text, email or on your top-up note to tell you the credit has been applied to your account.
Most pre-pay electricity meters accept each of the €150 credits in full.
Your supplier should give you specific instructions on how to redeem your credits.
Hardship meters
If you have an older pre-pay meter that has a pre-pay limit, you may have to redeem each of your electricity credits over separate top-ups (vends), over the space of a few days.
To redeem your credits, you pay €10 towards your electricity. Your credit is automatically added to the top-up. You should allow one day between each €10 payment.
| Number of top-ups: | Amount you should pay: | Amount of credit automatically applied to your €10 |
| First top-up | €10 | €50 |
| Second top-up | €10 | €50 |
| Third top-up | €10 | €50 |
You need to repeat the process above for each of the 3 €150 credits.
I have a sub-metered account
In the past, households that had electricity supplied through a sub-meter were not eligible for energy credits. This is where a property is divided with one main meter and submeters linked to the primary MRPN (for example multi-unit complexes).
Under a separate new scheme called the Submeter Support Scheme, electricity providers will also provide energy credits to consumers on submeter accounts. Credits will be paid in 3 instalments of €150.
Can I use the credit to pay off debt?
Yes, you can use the credits to pay off any debt you have on your electricity account.
The credits can't be used towards your gas bills. The scheme uses domestic electricity eligibility criteria because not every household has a gas connection. This way most households get help with their energy bills.
I am in rented accommodation
If you are a tenant in rented accommodation and you pay your landlord directly for your electricity (rather than the electricity provider), your landlord should pass the credit on to you.
If there is a dispute between you and your landlord, you should try to resolve this informally. If you cannot come to an agreement, you can contact the RTB’s free mediation service, where an independent mediator will help you reach an agreement. Or, you can apply for ‘adjudication’ with the RTB, where an independent adjudicator will look at all the evidence and make a decision about your case.
What if I switched suppliers?
If you switch electricity supplier, you won’t receive the credit twice.
You switch between 29 November and 31 December 2023: The first credit comes from the supplier you were with on 29 November 2023.
You switch between 20 December 2023 and 29 February 2024: The second credit comes from the supplier you were with on 20 December 2023.
You switch between 28 February and 31 March 2024: The third credit comes from the supplier you were with on 28 February 2024.
A supplier can apply the credit to your closing bill or credit you back through the same method pay your bills.
If I don’t get the credit
Suppliers will have information on their websites with the exact dates the credit will show on their customers’ bills.
Bill pay customer: the first credit will be applied to your account in December. You should notice the credit on your next bill. Once you receive the bill, check for the credit. If it’s not there, contact your electricity supplier.
Prepay customer: contact your electricity supplier if you have not received the first credit by 31 December 2023.
You can find the contact details for your electricity supplier on your most recent bill or statement.
If there is a dispute
If you do not get the credit and want to log an objection with your electricity supplier, you must do this by 30 June 2024.
If you cannot resolve the issue with your supplier, you can contact the CRU’s Customer Care Team for help.
You can contact the CRU Customer Care Team on 1800 404 404 or email customercare@cru.ie.
More information
The CRU has Frequently Asked Questions about the electricity account credit.
Page edited: 30 November 2023
Related documents
- Paying your electricity bills
Help with understanding your electricity bill and advice if you are worried about paying your bill.
- Electricity: getting connected or switching
With so many suppliers to choose from, connecting to an electricity provider can be daunting. This page guides you through the process, and helps you to avoid any nasty shocks.
- Separation, divorce and income tax credits and reliefs
A change in your personal circ*mstances following separation or divorce may have implications for how you are taxed. This page explains how income and maintenance is taxed after separation or divorce.
Contact Us
If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).
You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre.
As an expert in consumer utilities and electricity accounts, I can confidently provide insights into the key concepts outlined in the article regarding the €450 electricity credit announced in Budget 2024. This credit is aimed at domestic electricity customers in the Republic of Ireland, and it is overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
Payment Schedule and Oversight: The €450 credit is distributed in three instalments of €150 each, scheduled for the billing cycles of December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024. The CRU is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this scheme to ensure its legitimacy and prevent scams.
Automatic Payment Process: Eligible customers do not need to apply for the credit; it is automatic. The payment dates depend on the individual billing cycle of the electricity supplier, and the credit may not appear on the first bill within the payment periods.
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the credit, customers must meet specific criteria. They should be registered as urban domestic customers (DG1) or rural domestic customers (DG2) in the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, they must be registered with an electricity supplier and possess a unique Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN). Low usage accounts, defined as those using less than 150kWh of energy per quarter between July 2022 and June 2023, are not automatically eligible unless they meet specific exceptions like being on the vulnerable customer register or having a hardship PAYG meter.
Usage of the Credit: The credit can be used to offset debt on the electricity account, but it cannot be applied to pay gas bills. The scheme focuses on domestic electricity eligibility criteria to provide assistance to the majority of households.
Special Cases:
-
Pre-pay Electricity Users: Pre-pay electricity customers receive notifications from their supplier about the credit, and the €150 credits are typically accepted in full by most pre-pay electricity meters. There are instructions on how to redeem the credits, especially for older pre-pay meters with pre-pay limits.
-
Sub-metered Accounts: In the past, households with sub-meters were not eligible, but a new Submeter Support Scheme has been introduced. This scheme ensures that consumers with sub-meter accounts also receive energy credits in three instalments.
Switching Suppliers: If a customer switches suppliers during specific periods, the credits are attributed to the supplier the customer was with on the specified dates. The credits can be applied to the closing bill or refunded through the same method used to pay bills.
Rented Accommodation: Tenants who pay their landlords directly for electricity should receive the credit from the landlord. Disputes can be resolved informally or through mediation services provided by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Non-Receipt and Disputes: Customers who do not receive the credit should contact their electricity supplier. Disputes can be logged with the supplier by June 30, 2024. If unresolved, customers can seek assistance from the CRU's Customer Care Team.
Additional Information: The CRU has a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the electricity account credit, providing further clarification and guidance.
In summary, the electricity account credit is a government initiative aimed at providing financial relief to domestic electricity customers, and it's crucial for consumers to be aware of the eligibility criteria, payment schedule, and the legitimate processes involved in receiving and using the credit.
