Households across the country may have lost their eligibility for a crucial cost of living payment after a rule change came into effect.
Energy credits worth €125 will be paid out to households over the coming weeks as the government continues to try to help people with the rise in energy prices.
Announced in last October’s budget, the Government of the time agreed to two energy credits worth €125 each, or €250 in total.
Every home in the country would benefit from the payment automatically with money due on your bill deducted automatically at source. The first of these payments arrived in November and the second will be seen on the electricity bill for January / February.
The date you receive your credit is dependent on when your supplier typically issues your bill. The credit may not appear on your first bill during these payment periods, depending on your individual billing cycle.
Suppliers provide information on their websites detailing the exact dates the credit will be reflected on customers’ bills.
While all households are eligible for these credits, there are now certain criteria that must be met to receive the €125, as it has been confirmed that properties with very low levels of use will not automatically receive the credits, according to RSVP.
If your property does not meet the low usage threshold, then it will not qualify for the €125 January energy credit. The low usage threshold is defined as using less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between September 1, 2023 and August, 31 2024.
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
- Your supplier is satisfied that the MPRN address is the account holder’s primary residence (their main home)
Eoin Clarke from Switcher.ie highlighted that the energy credit is primarily designed to assist those who use a reasonable amount of electricity. He explained: “Some people could miss out on the giveaway if their property used less than 150kWh of electricity between September 2023 and August 2024. Mainly aimed at multiple homeowners, households needn’t worry if it’s their main residence, they’re on the vulnerable register, have a hardship PAYG meter or a microgeneration account.
“If you’re concerned about low usage, or your home was empty for three months or more during that time, it could still be worth contacting your supplier.”
The credit is applicable to every domestic electricity account that is not a low-usage account. This implies that if you own multiple homes in Ireland with a domestic electricity account, you are eligible for the credit for each account, provided they are not categorised as low-usage accounts. Individuals who use pre-pay electricity can also benefit from the electricity credit. They will be notified by their energy supplier through text, email or on their top-up note to inform them that it has been applied to their account.
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