As the cost of living crisis continues as we move into the winter months, many Irish households will be eagerly awaiting the €600 energy credit announced in Budget 2023.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved plans to pay three electricity credits worth €200 to every household in the country over the next six months. The first payment will be made in November 2022, while the second credit payment will be made in January 2023, and the third in March 2023.
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme is part of the package of supports to combat the cost of living, and it applies to all domestic electricity accounts registered with an electricity supplier in the Republic of Ireland. Like credits that were paid between April and June 2022, the new payment for the €200 energy credits will be automatic and you will not need to apply for them. Here's everything you need to know:
Read more: First of three €200 energy credits coming soon amid blackout fears
What is the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme?
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme is part of the package of supports to combat the cost of living, and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is overseeing the scheme. Domestic electricity customers, including pay as you go customers, got a one-off, exceptional payment of €200 (which included VAT) in 2022, which was paid between April and June 2022.
Similar to credits paid between April and June 2022, the new payment for the €200 energy credits will be automatic, and you will not need to apply for it.
Who is eligible for the credits?
The scheme applies to all domestic electricity accounts registered with an electricity supplier in the Republic of Ireland. You are eligible for the scheme if, on 29 March 2022, you are registered as either:
- An urban domestic customer (classified as DG1)
- A rural domestic customer (classified as DG2)
The credit applies to every domestic electricity account. It also means that if you have multiple homes in Ireland with a domestic electricity account, you get the credit for each account.
You should see a ‘credit line’ on your bill in the amount of €176.22 (this is €200 excluding VAT). It has the identifier ‘Government Electricity Credit’ or an abbreviated version of this depending on your supplier (for example, Govt. Credit, Govt. Cr, Gov CR).
Suppliers have information on their websites with the exact dates the credit will show on their customers’ bills.
What if I have pre-pay electricity?
If you are using pre-pay electricity, your supplier should contact you by letter or email to explain how you would receive your credit. Most pre-pay electricity meters will accept the €200 credit in full.
If you have an older pre-pay meter with a pre-pay limit, you can redeem your electricity credit over three separate top-ups over a few days. This means the €200 electricity credit will be applied over three separate top-ups.
I am in rented accommodation, will I get the credit?
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 over this, you can 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 energy suppliers?
If you switched electricity supplier between 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2022, the supplier you were with on 29 March 2022 is responsible for giving you the credit. A supplier can apply the credit to your closing bill or credit you back through the same method pay your bills.
Customers should contact their electricity supplier if they did not receive their credit. You can find the contact details for your electricity supplier on your most recent bill or statement.
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.
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