You will receive the electricity credits if you meet all of the following three points:<ol><li data-block-key="atpo0">You are a domestic customer. You can see this on this your latest electricity bill. (DG1 is an urban domestic customer and DG2 is a rural domestic customer).</li><li data-block-key="bkcqp">You are registered with an electricity supplier in the Republic of Ireland with a unique Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN). This is the number of your electricity meter, which is on your electricity bill, and;</li><li data-block-key="a4j3j">You have used over 150kWh of energy in at least one quarter between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024 inclusive.</li></ol>

Who is eligible?

No, you do not need to sign up to receive the credits. The scheme will automatically apply to all domestic electricity accounts that are not low usage electricity accounts.If you are a bill pay customer, the credits will be applied automatically to your account and will appear on your bills. If you are a prepay customer, your electricity supplier will directly contact you (by sending a letter or an email) to explain how you can redeem the credits.

Do I need to sign up to receive the credits?

Your electricity supplier will update their website with the exact dates the credit will appear on your electricity bills. The date you receive your credit will depend on the date that your supplier normally sends your bill.Bill pay customer:<ul><li data-block-key="1rtrc">If you are eligible for the credit, the first credit will be applied to your account between 1 November and 31 December.</li><li data-block-key="daknf">You should see the credit on the next bill you receive after this time. This next bill will most likely arrive in November or December, but it could arrive in January 2025 or may not arrive until February 2025, depending on the exact date the credit is applied and timing of your billing cycle.</li><li data-block-key="g88l">You should wait to receive this bill and check if the credit is on it. If it is not, then you may wish to contact your electricity supplier.</li></ul>Prepay customer:<ul><li data-block-key="cc6jk">If you are eligible for the credit, the first credit will be applied to your account between 1 November and 31 December.</li><li data-block-key="8eh6">You should receive this the next time you top-up after the credit is applied to your account.</li><li data-block-key="1b4f1">You may need to top-up more than once to get the full value of the credit.</li><li data-block-key="1t2eo">If you have not received the first credit by 31 December 2024, you may wish to contact your electricity supplier.</li></ul>You can find the contact details for your electricity supplier on your most recent bill or statement.

Who should I contact if I don’t receive the credit, and when?

If your MPRN is identified as being a low usage electricity account during the period of 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, the credits will be automatically withheld. However, you may still receive the credits if:<ul><li data-block-key="gce0">you are, or are eligible to be, a registered vulnerable customer, and/or</li><li data-block-key="87oq1">you are a hardship meter account holder, and/or</li><li data-block-key="8nrmg">your supplier is satisfied that the MPRN address is the account holder’s primary residence.</li></ul>

I did not receive the credits as my MPRN was a low-usage electricity account, can I still receive the credit?

The last scheme provided three credits to eligible domestic customers between December 2023 and April 2024. Under the legislation governing that scheme, if you did not get the credits you had to raise an objection with your electricity supplier by 30 June 2024. If you did not do this, you will unfortunately not be able to get the credits.

I did not get the credits last year, can I still get these?

The exact date you receive the payment will depend on your electricity supplier. They will credit customer accounts as set out below:Credit number Payment period1. Between 1 November 2024 and 31 December 20242. Between 1 January 2025 and 28 February 2025.However, the credit may not appear on your bill during these payment periods, as this will depend on the timing of your billing cycle.

When will I receive the payment?

The credit will be automatically applied to eligible accounts, either as a credit on your bill or as a top-up on your prepay meter. If your first billable amount after the credit is applied to your account is lower than the value of the credit, the credit will remain on your account and pass onto your following bill(s).

How will the credit be applied to my account?

If your first billable amount after the credit is applied to your account is lower than the value of the credit, the credit will remain on your account and pass onto your following bill(s). You are not automatically entitled to a refund of this amount to your bank account, as it is a support mechanism provided by the Government for the specific purpose of helping you to pay for your electricity consumption.

My account is currently paid up to date or in credit – how can I access the government credit?

Prepay customers will be notified by their supplier via an email/text message/message on top-up note to inform them that the credit has been applied to their account. Depending on your prepay meter type, your prepay vend requirements to redeem your credits may vary. Your supplier will contact you with specific instructions in this regard on how to redeem your credits.

I have a prepay meter, will I still be eligible to receive the credit?

No, the scheme is not means tested. As long as a domestic electricity account is eligible for the scheme, either by not being a low usage electricity account, or qualifying otherwise under the conditions of Section 6 (3)(b) of the Act, then the account will receive the credits. Applying further means testing to the scheme would be cumbersome for customers by requiring formal application and significantly delay the automatic crediting of customer accounts.

Is the scheme means tested?

It is important that you do not engage with texts or phone calls asking for personal information in order to access your electricity credit.If you are eligible for the credits, they will be applied automatically to your bill. You do not need to take any action.If your account is classified as low usage so the credits are withheld from you, but you think you are eligible to receive them, you should contact your supplier directly.For information on what to do if you have engaged with a scam call or text, please see the following information from the Commission for Communications Regulation: https://www.comreg.ie/advice-information/scam-calls/.

I received a text message about my accessing my credit, is it legitimate?

<ul><li data-block-key="pvwzx">There are two payment periods for the scheme:<ul><li data-block-key="ad91l">1 November 2024 to 31 December 2024 for the first payment,</li><li data-block-key="35rav">1 January 2025 to 28 February 2025 for the second payment.</li></ul></li><li data-block-key="65di6">To ensure the correct amount of funding is transferred for each meter registered in Ireland, ESB Networks determines the number of domestic electricity Meter Point Registration Numbers (MPRNs) on their system, and which supplier each MPRN was registered to, as of an ‘effective date’: 30 October 2024 for the first payment period, 20 December 2024 for the second. Once an MPRN is on a supplier list for a credit payment period, it cannot be moved to another supplier list.</li><li data-block-key="dg44u">Following each effective date, Exchequer funds are allocated to suppliers on the basis of ESB Networks’ list. ESB Networks transfers these funds to electricity suppliers.</li><li data-block-key="4qot5">Once a supplier receives the credit associated with an MPRN, it is their responsibility to provide the credit to the account associated with that meter number on the effective date.</li><li data-block-key="7e2ac">If you do not receive the credit and wish to log an objection with your electricity supplier, you must do so by 31 May 2025.</li><li data-block-key="cv03m">For any credits that are unallocated under the terms of the scheme, funds must be returned to the Exchequer by 30 September 2025.</li></ul>

How does the scheme operate? Does it have an expiry date?

If you have not received your first credit on your first bill in 202510 or on a prepayment vend, your MPRN may have been identified as being low usage (less than 150kWh electricity consumed in every quarter between 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 inclusive). This could mean your account was deemed ineligible to receive the credits.However, you may still receive the credits if you meet the eligibility criteria11, i.e. if you are registered or are eligible to be registered as a vulnerable customer, and/or you hold a hardship meter account, and/or your supplier is satisfied the MPRN address is the primary residence of the account holder. In this instance, you should call your supplier to discuss your eligibility for the scheme.Unless there was an extended period of time (approximately three months) where your property was entirely vacant between September 2023 and August 2024, it is very unlikely that your account was identified as a low usage electricity account.

How will I know whether my MPRN is not a low usage electricity account, and therefore automatically eligible to receive the credits?

A vulnerable customer is defined in legislation as a household customer who is:<ul><li data-block-key="cki4p">Critically dependent on electrically powered equipment, which shall include but is not limited to life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment, or</li><li data-block-key="51du2">Particularly vulnerable to disconnection during winter months for reasons of advanced age (66 years or above, living alone, with another vulnerable person or with minors) or physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health.</li></ul>To register as a vulnerable customer, some electricity suppliers have a registration form available on their websites. You can also contact your supplier who will be able to assist.For more information, the Code of Practice for Vulnerable Customers can be found in the CRU’s Electricity and Gas Suppliers’ Handbook 2023.

What is a registered vulnerable customer, and how do I sign up?

Suppliers should be mindful that customers who contact them because they did not receive the credit due to low usage, may be rationing, which may be a signal that they are vulnerable. Suppliers should therefore carefully and thoroughly check the customer&#x27;s eligibility for registration and, if in doubt, offer customers the choice to register as a vulnerable customer.Per Section 7.1.1 of the Electricity &amp; Gas Suppliers’ Handbook, a vulnerable customer is defined in legislation as a household customer who is:<ul><li data-block-key="6skpv">critically dependent on electricity powered equipment, which shall include but is not limited to life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment; or</li><li data-block-key="fgp7m">particularly vulnerable to disconnection during winter months for reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health.</li></ul>Suppliers are also reminded that in accordance with the Government Credit Scheme III legislation, customers are entitled to the credit where they are registered as vulnerable or are eligible to be registered vulnerable, even if the customer does not wish to register as vulnerable.If the customer does not meet the eligibility criteria to register as a vulnerable customer, they may still receive the credit(s) if the supplier is satisfied that the MPRN address is the account holder’s primary residence.

I have a low-usage account because I am very careful with my energy use due to financial concerns, can I receive the credit?

An electricity hardship meter is installed for a customer that is in financial difficulty.If you have a hardship meter account on the effective date(s) (30 October 2024 for the first payment and 20 December 2024 for the second payment), the credit(s) should automatically be applied to your account.If you are not sure whether you have a hardship meter or not, and you do not receive the credits automatically, you can contact your supplier.

What is a hardship meter? How do I know if I have one?

Yes. The scheme will apply to all eligible domestic electricity accounts, including pay as you go customers.Prepay customers will be notified by their supplier via a letter or email to explain how they can redeem their credits.

For operational reasons the scheme can only credit the domestic electricity account holder.The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications advises as follows: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. The RTB encourages parties to engage with its mediation service where agreements are reached in over 70% of cases.

My electricity bill is included in my rent, will I still get the credit?

The scheme will apply to every domestic electricity account which is not a low usage electricity account as defined in the Act. This means that holiday homes with a domestic electricity account in Ireland will be included in the scheme as long as they do not meet the definition of a low usage electricity account.However, if a holiday home is classified as a low usage electricity account and following investigation the supplier is satisfied that the MPRN address is not the account holder’s primary residence, the account holder will not be eligible to receive the credits for that property.

Will people with multiple residences, for example holiday homes, be eligible?

If your microgeneration was registered with ESBN on the effective date, and your maximum export capacity is above zero, you should receive the credit. If you think you meet the criteria and did not receive the credit, you should contact your supplier in the first instance.

I have microgeneration installed and am exporting energy. Will I still receive the credits?

If you have an account number with an electricity supplier, but there is not a unique MPRN for your account, you may have a sub-meter account. There is a separate scheme, called the Submeter Support Scheme, being operated directly between electricity suppliers and the Government to provide these accounts with electricity credits. Customers with a sub-metered account should contact their electricity supplier directly if they have queries about receiving electricity credits.

I have a sub-metered account (there is no unique Meter Point  Registration Number for my account). Will I receive the credits?

The credit is applied to your bill as €114.68 with a VAT rate of 9%. This equates to a benefit of €125 after VAT.(Credit applied before VAT, as it should appear on bills, equates to €125 after VAT).

Why did I receive less than €125 credit?

Yes. The credit can be used towards the fee to re-connect a domestic electricity supply user (DG1 or DG2).

Can the credit be used to re-connect electricity supply?

Yes. The credit can be used to pay off any debt you have on your electricity account.

Can the credit be used to pay off debt?

No. The credit cannot be used towards gas debt. The scheme has been designed as a payment to be made in the form of a credit to each eligible domestic electricity account holder in Ireland. The scheme uses this single eligibility criteria to enable payments to be made to benefit the broadest range of households (many households do not have a gas connection) from relief on their energy bills.

Can the credit be used to pay off my gas debt?

The scheme will apply to every domestic electricity account which is not a low usage electricity account as defined in the Act. This means that holiday homes with a domestic electricity account in Ireland will receive the credits, if they do not meet the definition of a low usage electricity account.However, if a holiday home is classified as a low usage electricity account and following investigation the supplier is satisfied that the MPRN address is not the account holder’s primary residence, the account holder will not be eligible to receive the credits for that property.

Yes, if your MPRN was registered with a supplier on the relevant effective date and you were the named account holder for that MPRN.For the first payment period, if you switch electricity supplier between 30 October 2024 and 31 December 2024, it is the supplier your MPRN was registered with on 30 October 2024 that will be responsible for providing you with the credit.For the second payment period, if you switch between 20 December 2024 and 28 February 2025, it is the supplier your MPRN was registered with on 20 December 2024 that will beresponsible for providing you with the credit. A supplier may apply the credit to your closing bill if applicable or credit you back via the means by which you pay your bills.When a customer switches electricity supplier, there is usually a gap between the day the customer requests the switch, and the day the switch is confirmed by ESB Networks, in line with normal market operations. If you request to switch electricity supplier before the effective date for a credit payment period, but your switch to the new supplier does not complete until after the effective date, it is the supplier you are switching away from (your old supplier) that would hold your credit.Please note, the date your switch was completed may not be the same as the date your new supplier started to bill you from. Your old and new suppliers should both be able to see the date your switch completed from their systems, so whichever one you talk to should be able to advise you of this date if there is any confusion about which supplier holds your credit.

What if I switch electricity supplier, will I still get the credit?

The account holder registered to the supplier on 30 October 2024 (for the first payment period) and 20 December 2024 (for the second payment period) is eligible to receive the credit(s).

If there is a change in account holder, will I still get the credit?

The customer who was registered at the MPRN in question on the specific effective date is eligible to receive the credit (provided they meet the eligibility criteria). If there is no registered account holder for an MPRN on the effective date, but a customer subsequently registers an account and the supplier carries this out as a backdated move-in (with the customer accepting liability for paying bills from that date), the supplier may apply the credit to your account.

My supplier has carried out a backdated move-in when opening my energy account, will I receive the credit?

Under the legislation governing the scheme, the calculation as to whether an electricity account is considered ‘low usage’ is done by ESB Networks on the ‘effective dates’ of 30 October 2024 and 20 December 2025, based on consumption data between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024If you move into a property has been recently built and so has a new MPRN (so there would not be consumption data available between1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024), and you have an active electricity account on the effective date(s), you will receive the credit(s).If you move into a house that does not have a newly registered MPRN, where there was consumption data available between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, and based on this data the MPRN is classified as a low usage electricity account, you should contact your supplier. If your supplier is satisfied that your newly registered MPRN address is your primary residence, they will give you the credit.

If I switch supplier, will I receive the credit twice?

Under the legislation governing the scheme, the calculation as to whether an electricity account is considered ‘low usage’ is done by ESB Networks on the ‘effective dates’ of 30 October 2024 and 20 December 2024, based on electricity used by the meter between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024.If you move into a property that has been recently built with a new Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN), there won’t be any consumption data available for the period between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024. In this case, if you have an active electricity account on the effective date(s), you will receive the credit(s).However, if you move into a property where there was consumption data available between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, the calculation of electricity used at the property will be made based on whoever lived there during that period. In this case, if your account is classified as a low usage electricity account, unfortunately, according to legislation you are not eligible to receive the credit.

I have moved into a property that previously had low usage. Will I get the credit?

If you cannot resolve the issue with your supplier, please contact the CRU’s Customer Care Team for assistance by: Phone: 1800 404 404 Email: customercare@cru.ie.

What if I have contacted my supplier and still need help?

If you did not receive a credit automatically, and you consider you meet the eligibility criteria as set out in the Act, you may complaint to your supplier. Your supplier must review this and either provide the credit to you or explain why you are not eligible. You must contact your supplier regarding any credit(s) you did not receive before 31 May 2025 for the CRU to be able to investigate your complaint.If you do not agree with your supplier’s assessment, you may submit a complaint to the CRU, explaining which eligibility criteria you consider you fall under and why. Please note, the CRU will assess whether your electricity supplier operated in accordance with the legislative framework for the scheme, but if you were not eligible for the credit(s) under the legislation, we will not be able to direct your supplier to provider the credit(s) to you.The CRU provides a free and easy to use complaint resolution service for customers with unresolved complaints. We will deal with all complaints as quickly as possible and provide you with an outcome that is clear and easy to understand. Please note that you have to complete your supplier’s complaint process first before the CRU can investigate. This makes sure the supplier has an opportunity to address the issue first, and is a requirement under our legislative remit as set out in S.I. 463 of 2011.The process for submitting a complaint to the CRU is set out on our <a href="https://www.cru.ie/make-a-complaint/complain-to-the-cru/">website</a>. You can also contact the Customer Care Team by email or phone, and they will send you a complaint form.

How do I complain about not getting the credit?

Learn More

A woman is sat at a kitchen table reading her bills.

Billing

The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV was announced in Budget 2025. Domestic electricity customers will get credit to help reduce electricity bills.

Government Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme

Frequently Asked Questions

How the Scheme Works

Who the Scheme Covers

Using the credit

Moving Supplier or Property

Seeking Further Support

Billing