Help & Support

When will I receive the €600 government electricity credit?

On September 27th, 2022, the Government announced that electricity credits for all households totalling €600 (€550.47 + €49.53 VAT) will be available in three instalments of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT). The Government Electricity Credit will be automatically available to all residential electricity customer accounts and no action will be required from the customer.

  • The first credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT) will start to be available from November 1, 2022. Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until December or January depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT) will start to be available from January 1, 2023. Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until February or March depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT) will start to be available from March 3, 2023. Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until April or May depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from March 3, 2023.
For PAYG customers the application of the Government Electricity Credit will follow a different process. Further details can be found here.

1. Will Electric Ireland gas accounts be eligible for the Government Electricity credit?

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 (€550.47 + €49.53 VAT)* credit on your electricity account only. If you have a gas only account with Electric Ireland, you will not be eligible for the Government Electricity Credit.

2. How can I claim the Government electricity credit?

The Government Electricity Credit will be automatically available to all residential electricity customer accounts and no action will be required from the customer.

For PAYG customers the application of the Government Electricity Credit will follow a different process. Further details can be found here

The first electricity credit of €200 will be available from November 1st, 2022. The second electricity credit will be available from January 1st, 2023. The third credit will be available from March 3rd, 2023.

3. Why are Electric Ireland supplying a €600 electric credit to all households after increasing their prices?

The €600 (€550.47 + €49.53 VAT)* credit is funded by the Government and not by Electric Ireland and will apply to all domestic electricity customer accounts.

4. What date will the Government Electricity Credit be applied to my Electric Ireland electricity account?

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 (€550.47 + €49.53 VAT)* and will be available in three instalments of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)*.

  • The first credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* will start to be available from November 1, 2022.Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until December or January depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* will start to be available from January 1, 2023.Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until February or March depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* will start to be available from March 3, 2023.Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until April or May depending on when you are due to bill. However, you can view the credit on your online account from March 3, 2023.

5. How will I know that I have received the Government Electricity Credit on my Electric Ireland account?

The first electricity credit of €200 was applied to your online account on November 1st, 2022. The second electricity credit will be available on your online account from January 1st, 2023. The third credit will be available on your online account from March 3rd, 2023.

Depending on when you are due to bill, the credit will be displayed on the back of your bill as Government Electricity Credit 1 for the first instalment, Government Electricity Credit 2 for the second instalment and Government Electricity Credit 3 for the third instalment.

6. I just received my bill before the credit instalment date of March 3rd, will the €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* Government electricity credit be available on this bill?

No, the third electricity credit of €200 will be on your online account from March 3rd, 2023. If your bill issue date is prior to the credit instalment date, the credit will be applied to your electricity account, but it will not be reflected on your bill until the next bill issues.

7. Why has my Direct Debit failed for insufficient funds - yet the Government Credit has been applied to my online account?

The third credit instalment of €200 will start to be available from March 3rd, 2023. The credit will be visible to customers on their online account also from March 3rd, 2023.

The credits can only be used against your bill from March 3rd, 2023 onwards and cannot be used against any bills issued before March 3rd, 2023. Any outstanding balances due before March 3rd, 2023 are issued for Direct Debit collection for the full amount. Please be aware credits cannot be offset against a previous bill and you will need to ensure you have sufficient credit in your account to cover this bill.

8. I Just switched my electricity account to/from Electric Ireland, am I eligible for the €200 (€183.49 excluding VAT)* Government electricity credit?

If you switch electricity providers, the provider who you were registered with on the below effective dates will determine who you will receive your electricity credit from.

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 (€550.47 + €49.53 VAT)* and will be available in three instalments of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)*.

  • If you are a registered customer with Electric Ireland on October 27, 2022, you will receive the first credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* on your next bill.
  • If you are a registered customer with Electric Ireland on December 20, 2022, you will receive the second credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* on your next bill.
  • If you are a registered customer with Electric Ireland on February 27, 2023, you will receive the third credit instalment of €200 (€183.49 + €16.51 VAT)* on your next bill.

9. Can the credit be used towards an energy saving product sold by Electric Ireland?

No, the credit will be directly applied to your electricity account.

10. Can the credit be transferred to a friend of family members account?

No, the credit cannot be transferred to a friend or family’s account, it is only applicable to the electricity account holder.

11. Can I get the credit for my holiday home?

The Government Electricity credit is available to every domestic electricity accounts. This means that if you have multiple homes in Ireland with a domestic electricity account you get the credit for each account.

PAYG Customers

1. I have a Pay as You Go meter, how do I get the Government Electricity Credit?

Smarter Pay as You Go Meters

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 (incl VAT)* and will be available in three instalments of €200 (Incl VAT)*.

  • The first credit instalment of €200* will be automatically applied to your Smarter PAYG meter on November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200* will be automatically applied to your Smarter PAYG meter by January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200* will be automatically applied to your Smarter PAYG meter on March 3, 2023.

Standard Pay As You Go meters

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 (incl VAT) and will be available in three instalments of €200 (Incl VAT)

  • The first credit instalment of €200 will be available from November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200 will be available to customers by January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200 will be available from March 3,2023.

Our standard PAYG meters have limitations that do not allow us to apply the credit automatically.

The steps required to avail of the electricity credit are outlined below. There is no expiry date on the vend codes, so you can vend when it suits you to collect the credit. If you wish to receive the credit in full over 2 vends you must wait at least one day (24 hours) between the vend 1 and vend 2.

Vend 1

€10 electricity top up (Customer purchase)

€165.50 Government Credit automatically applied to meter

Total credit applied to meter €175.50

Vend 2

€10 electricity top up (Customer purchase)

€34.50 Government Credit automatically applied to meter

Total credit applied to meter €44.50

Topping up is easy and there are multiple flexible ways to Top Up your PAYG meter.

1. Buy a €10 electricity top up. This purchase will provide you with a vend code.
2. Go to your PAYG meter and input your vend code, this code will add €165.50 of the total €200 government credit and your €10 top up to your account. (Total €175.50)
3. Wait at least one day (full 24 hours) before repeating step 1 and step 2. Your second code will provide you with the balance of the Government credit €34.50 and your €10 top up. (Total €44.50)
4. The total credit that will be available to your meter will be the Government credit plus your two €10 top-ups.

2. I am a Smarter PAYG customer how will I know the credit has been available to my meter/how can I check?

You can see your credit balance in three ways:

  • On the front screen of your In-Home Monitor.
  • By texting “EI balance” to 53314.
  • On the front screen of your Smarter Pay as You Go meter (next to your fuse board).

3. Will a portion of the Government electricity credit of €600 (Including VAT) go towards the debt payment on my PAYG meter? (Standard and Smarter)

No, the full credit value will be applied to your electricity consumption charges only.

4. Standard PAYG – I have topped up in my local Payzone and I have lost the receipt with my top up code including The Government Electricity Credit, what do I do?

  • Lost top up codes can be reissued by contacting Electric Ireland Customer Service.
  • If you have topped up using the app, online or SMS your top up code will still be visible to you.
  • Topping up is easy and there are multiple flexible ways to Top Up which don’t include paper receipts

5. I have only received x amount. I thought the credit was going to be €200 (Including VAT) for all customers including PAYG (standard and smarter)

Smarter Pay as You Go meters

The Government electricity credit of €200 will be automatically credited to your Smarter PAYG meter as per the schedule outlined above.

  • The first credit instalment of €200 will be applied to your meter on November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200 will be applied to your meter by January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200 will be applied to your meter on March 3, 2023.

Standard Pay as You Go meters

The Government has stated that the credit will be a €600 credit and will be available in three instalments of €200.

  • The first credit instalment of €200 will be available from November 1, 2022.
  • The second credit instalment of €200 will be available to customers by January 1, 2023.
  • The third credit instalment of €200 will be available from March 3, 2023.

Our standard PAYG meters have limitations that do not allow us to apply the credit automatically.

The steps required to avail of the electricity credit are outlined below. There is no expiry date on the vend codes, so you can vend when it suits you to collect the credit. If you wish to receive the credit in full over 2 vends you must wait at least one day (24 hours) between the vend 1 and vend 2.

Vend 1

€10 electricity top up (Customer purchase)

€165.50 Government Credit automatically applied to meter

Total credit applied to meter €175.50

Vend 2

€10 electricity top up (Customer purchase)

€34.50 Government Credit automatically applied to meter

Total credit applied to meter €44.50

Topping up is easy and there are multiple flexible ways to Top Up your PAYG meter.

  1. Buy a €10 electricity top up. This purchase will provide you with a vend code.
  2. Go to your PAYG meter and input your vend code, this code will add €165.50 of the total €200 government credit and your €10 top up to your account. (Total €175.50)
  3. Wait at least one day (full 24 hours) before repeating step 1 and step 2. Your second code will provide you with the balance of the Government credit €34.50 and your €10 top up. (Total €44.50)
  4. The total credit that will be available to your meter will be the Government credit plus your two €10 top-ups.

6. I have not received the government electricity credit vends (smarter and standard)

Smarter PAYG Meters

If you are a Smarter PAYG customer, you can see your credit balance in three different ways:

  • On the front screen of your In-Home Monitor
  • By texting “EI balance” to 53314
  • On the front screen of your Smarter Pay as You Go meter (next to your fuse board)

Standard PAYG Meters

If you are a Standard PAYG customer:

  • Lost top up codes can be reissued by contacting Electric Ireland Customer Service.
  • If you have topped up using the app, online or SMS your top up code will still be visible to you.
  • Topping up is easy and there are multiple flexible ways to Top Up

* The Government Electricity Credit and the total amount on your bill is subject to any VAT change at a future date. As indicated by the Government the reduced VAT rate on gas and electricity bills is due to expire on October 31, 2023. (From 9% to 13.5%). We will update our website once we have more information.

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