Plug pulled on energy supports as last €150 credit is set to drop

THE final electricity bill credit of €150 will be paid tomorrow.

The third and last of the supports – totalling €450 – will show up on households’ next bill after March 1.

The credits were introduced last October as part of Budget 2024 to help with the soaring cost of electricity, which has nearly doubled since 2016 after the war in the Ukraine sent gas prices soaring. Gas-fired power stations supply around a third of Ireland’s electricity.

The three credits – totalling €412.86 plus €37.14 Vat – were paid in three instalments. The first was on December 1, the second on January 1, and now the last is tomorrow. The Government’s energy credits go toward electricity bills only, as not every household is on the gas network so not all would benefit. They were introduced to help families cope with rising costs and will automatically be credited to residential electricity customer accounts.

Eoin Clarke, of price-comparison site Switcher.ie, explained: ‘Households will receive the third €150 electricity credit from this Friday, March 1.

‘However, you could receive your bill as late as April, so note your usual billing date and check your supplier’s website for more information.’

He continued: ‘As cold temperatures continue to bite, many families are still struggling to heat their homes: new figures from the CRU [Commission for Regulation of Utilities] reveal around one in ten are behind on electricity payments, with one in five behind on their gas bills. The third and final credit will hopefully provide some relief, and if you’re in arrears, any money owed on your account will automatically be reduced. Many suppliers have also set up hardship funds to help those in trouble, so talk to your supplier if you need to and try to work out a solution.’

He also said that ‘if you’re renting, your landlord is the account holder and they haven’t passed on the credit to you, remember you can raise the issue with the Residential Tenancies Board’.