A scheme has been approved by the government to credit all eligible residential electricity customers with €450, in three €150 (incl. VAT) instalments. This will apply to both bill pay and prepay customers.
The credits will be applied to customer's accounts in three payment periods:
- the first occurring between 1 December 2023 – 31 December 2023
- the second occurring between 1 January 2024 – 28 February 2024
- the third occurring between 1 March 2024 – 30 April 2024.
The first instalment (€137.61 excl. VAT) has been applied to customer's accounts. This equates to a benefit of €150 after VAT.
The credit will be applied to customer's accounts automatically, you don’t need to sign up. Customers with an online account will be able to see the credit in the 'Bills and Transactions' tab on their account dashboard. If you don’t have an online account, you canregister here. Customers can also see the credit on their next bill after the credit has been applied.
We're here to help
We’ve applied the first credit to eligible electricity customer’s accounts. The credit will be applied to customer’s accounts automatically.
For more information, please visit theHelp sectionof our site.
Eligibility for Government Electricity Payment
Eligible residential electricity customers, including Pay As You Go customers, that are not identified as being low usage electricity accounts are eligible for the credits.
Eligible Bord Gáis Energy customers with a residential electricity account as of 29 November 2023 will receive the first credit.
Business customers and gas customers are not eligible for the credit. For more information on the scheme and eligibility, seecru.ie.
Low usage accounts
Per government guidelines, a low usage electricity account is one which has not met the minimum consumption threshold of 150 kWh in each period of three months in the four consecutive periods of three months occurring in the period beginning on 1 July 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023. Low usage accounts are not eligible for the credit.
If you've a microgeneration account registered with ESB Networks for the payment period, you won't be on the low usage list and will therefore receive the credit.
Where the holder of a low usage electricity account meets one or more of the following criteria, they will receive the credits:
- If you're a registered vulnerable customer
- If you're eligible to be registered as a vulnerable customer
- If you hold a hardship meter account.
Pay As You Go (PAYG) customers
Pay As You Go electricity customers are eligible for the government credit. If you're a PAYG customer, we’ll send youan SMS when your credit is available. If we don't have your mobile number, we'll send you a letter.
To access the credit, you’ll need to top up once or twice over the space of a few days. There are two different scenarios regarding how much credit can be received on the first top up.
Scenario 1below applies where your first top up is on 2 December 2023:
- Top-up 1: Purchase a top-up of €10, and €100 of the government credit will be applied for a total top-up of €110.
- Top-up 2: Purchase a top-up of €10, and €50 of the government credit will be applied for a total top-up of €60.
Scenario 2below applies where your first top up is on or after 3 December 2023:
- Top-up 1: Purchase a top-up of €10, and €150.00 of the government credit will be applied for a total top-up of €160.00
It’s spread out this way as there are limitations regarding the application of credit on some legacy prepay meters, due to their age andmonetary limits.
Top up your meter onlineor at any Payzone outlet.
Level Pay customers
If you are a Level Pay customer, the Government credit will be applied to your next bill.
As a Level Pay customer, the cost of your energy usage is spread evenly across the year with monthly payments based on expected electricity usage over a 12-month period. You currently pay the same amount each month by direct debit. After the government credit is applied, your monthly payments will continue as normal, but rest assured the credit will be reflected in your account balance.
The benefit of thegovernment credit will be across 12 months, rather than just your next payment.
Your monthly payment amount is reviewed regularly to ensure that your payments cover your bills. The account review takes into consideration current unit rates, your energy usage and your account balance.
Please note that the €150 government credit will not automatically reduce your monthly payment at this time. We’ll review your account in early 2024 and let you know what your new monthly payment will be.
Customers with an online account will be able to see the government credit in the 'Bills and Transactions' tab on their account dashboard. Customers can also see the credit on their next bill after the credit has been applied.
Want to know more?
For more information on Level Pay and how it works,visit our help section.
Still have questions?
Let's see if we can help
No, customers don’t need to sign up, register or contact us to receive the electricity credit. We’ll automatically apply the credit to your residential electricity account, so you don't need to do anything. Customers with an online account will be able to see the payment in the 'Bills and Transactions' tab on their account dashboard. If you don’t have an online account, you canregister here. Customers can also see the payment on their next bill after the credit has been applied. Pay As You Go Customers If you're a PAYG customer, we’ll send youan SMS when your credit is available.If we don't have your mobile number, we'll send you a letter. No, only residential electricity customers are eligible for the credit, as per government guidelines. If you have a gas and electricity account with us, your electricity account will be credited (provided your account is eligible for the credit). For operational reasons, the government credit will only apply to the electricity account holder. If your landlord pays your electricity bill and you have questions about the credit, you'll need to raise these directly with your landlord. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residentials Tenancies Board (RTB) to publicise and increase awareness of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme to ensure those in rented accommodation who hold the electricity account receive benefit from the payments. In the event that a dispute should arise, there are existing dispute resolution mechanisms provided by the RTB to landlords and tenants. Your direct debit payment will be taken as normal on the payment due date, as stated on your bill and your online account. If the government credit was applied to your account between your bill being issued and your direct debit being taken, the credit won’t be applied to your current direct debit, as we’ve already applied to the bank for the full amount and are unable to change this. In this instance, the government credit will be used towards your next bill. You can view and download your bills, as well as view your bill issue date,by signing in to your online account. Yes, the government credit will be applied to each residential electricity account, provided each account meets the eligibility criteria and is not considered a 'low usage' account. Per government guidelines, a low usage electricity account is one which has not met the minimum consumption threshold of 150 kWh in each period of three months in the four consecutive periods of three months occurring in the period beginning on 1 July 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023. Low usage accounts are not eligible for the credit. If you've a microgeneration account registered with ESB Networks for the payment period, you won't be on the low usage list and will therefore receive the credit. Where the holder of a low usage electricity account meets one or more of the following criteria, they will receive the credits: For more information on the scheme and eligibility, seecru.ie. The credits will be applied to eligible customer's accounts in three payment periods: If you're a Bord Gáis Energy electricity customer on 29 November 2023 and are eligible for the credit, we'll apply the first credit to your account. If you join Bord Gáis Energy after receiving the credit from your previous supplier, the credit does not transfer over to your Bord Gáis Energy account. In this instance, you'll need to contact your previous supplier for a refund.
As a seasoned energy expert with a wealth of knowledge in the field, I can confidently provide insights into the various concepts mentioned in the article about the Government Electricity Credit scheme for the year 2023/2024. My expertise spans residential and business energy, smart plans, sustainability, and government policies related to electricity.
Firstly, the government has approved a scheme to credit eligible residential electricity customers with €450, distributed in three €150 (including VAT) instalments. This credit will be applied automatically to both bill pay and prepay customers in three payment periods, with the first instalment already applied between December 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.
The eligibility criteria for residential electricity customers include being identified as not having low usage accounts, and eligible customers will receive the first credit if they have a residential electricity account with Bord Gáis Energy as of November 29, 2023. Business customers and gas customers are not eligible for this credit.
Low usage accounts, defined as those not meeting the minimum consumption threshold of 150 kWh in each three-month period, are excluded from the credit. However, exceptions are made for low usage accounts held by registered vulnerable customers, those eligible to be registered as vulnerable, and those with a hardship meter account.
Pay As You Go (PAYG) customers are eligible for the government credit. The credit distribution for PAYG customers depends on the timing of their first top-up, and notifications are sent via SMS or letter. Level Pay customers will see the government credit applied to their next bill, with the benefit spread across 12 months.
The article addresses common questions such as whether customers need to sign up for the credit (no, it is automatic), the eligibility of gas customers (not eligible), and the impact on direct debit payments (no immediate reduction, but monthly payments will be reviewed in early 2024).
Importantly, the article clarifies that the government credit applies only to the electricity account holder, excluding renters whose names are not on the electricity account. It emphasizes ongoing efforts by government departments to publicize and increase awareness of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for those in rented accommodation.
Multiple electricity accounts held by a single customer will receive the government credit for each eligible account. However, if a customer has switched suppliers, the credit does not transfer, and they should contact the previous supplier for a refund if applicable.
In summary, this government scheme aims to provide financial relief to eligible residential electricity customers and emphasizes transparency in its application process, eligibility criteria, and distribution timeline. The information presented here reflects my comprehensive understanding of the energy landscape and government initiatives related to electricity credits.
