When Will the Next Government Electricity Credit be paid?
Further electricity credits were announced in Budget 2025
All domestic electricity customers will get €250 off their electricity bills. The credits will be paid in 2 instalments of €125.
The first payment of €125 will be in November/December 2024 . The second payment is expected in early 2025 (February/March)
Previous Electricity Credits .
A total of €800 was paid to each household in Ireland in the form of electricity bill credits in 2022
Approximately 2.1 million domestic electricity account holders in Ireland benefitted from the first Government Electricity Credit Scheme for a one-off credit of €200 on their electricity accounts in April 2022.
Further payments of electricity allowances were announced in Budget 2023. There was a total credit of €600 paid on all household electricity bills , made as three separate credits of €200 on the bi-monthly bills starting in November 2022 .
Electricity Credit For Prepay Customers
The electricity allowances or credits will also be given to prepayment customers as €125 credit / top up codes that could be entered on their accounts.
We recommend you continue topping up prepay meters (even €10 a week) after receiving your government electricity credit to help you build a cushion for your extra energy usage in winter.
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 should pay €10 towards your electricity. Your credit will then be automatically added to the top-up. (one credits of €90 and one of €60) You should allow one day between each €10 payment.
Government Credits After Switching Electricity Provider
If you switch electricity suppliers before the credit can be applied to your bill – you should still get paid the credit by your old electricity supplier , by bank transfer or cheque .
Other Help With Fuel Bills
Thousands of households get help towards fuel bills with the Winter Fuel Allowance . The fuel allowance amounts to €924 a year for eligible households.
More people should be able to qualify for the Fuel Allowance in 2024 because of changes to the income thresholds. Read more about Claiming Fuel Allowance 2024.
Under the Household Benefit Scheme, about 400,00 people also receive €35 a month towards electricity OR gas all year round. That works out at €420 a year per claimant. Some of these people will also qualify for the Fuel Allowance.
VAT on Energy Bills :
The VAT on gas and electricity was temporarily cut from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent . See VAT Rates Ireland
The VAT rate on energy is not due to go back up to 13.5% until April 2025.
See where to get the Cheapest Electricity Here
Problems Paying Energy Bills?
If you are facing difficulty paying your electricity or gas bill, you should contact your supplier and seek to agree on a payment plan. Energy suppliers must arrange practical payment plans to assist domestic customers who have built up arrears. Any repayment arrangements must take into account the customer’s circumstances and must be reasonable and affordable.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the State’s money advice service, guiding people through dealing with problem debt. MABS runs a Helpline (0818 07 2000) Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm)
Grants for Heat Pumps and Insulation
Gov.ie
Northern Ireland Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme