Help with your electricity bill
There is a new scheme to reduce people's electricity bills in Northern Ireland. Households will automatically get a discount to their electricity bill this year, in 2027 and 2028. You do not need to apply and it is not means-tested.
Household Electricity Discount Scheme
The Household Electricity Discount Scheme is funded by government. Under the scheme, households will either receive a yearly:
- deduction from their electricity bill
or
- credit to their pre-pay/ keypad meter
The scheme will run for three years from 2026 to 2028.
Discount or credit will be automatic - you do not need to apply.
The amount is not based on how much electricity you use or how much you top up.
This year's discount is £63.00 and it will be made from 6 October 2026.
You will be told the amounts for 2027 and 2028 before any discount is applied to your bill or credit added to your pre-pay/ keypad meter.
Eligibility
The support will be delivered by electricity suppliers to their domestic electricity customers.
For 2026, eligibility is decided by electricity suppliers using information held by NIE Networks as of 4 October 2026.
Businesses are not eligible.
Bill payers
Your discount will be applied automatically by your electricity supplier.
You will receive a £60.00 discount on your electricity account.
Because it is applied before VAT is calculated, the overall savings to you is £63.00.
The discount will appear on your bill as 'NIRO & VAT Govt Credit'.
Pre-pay/ keypad customers
Pre-pay/ keypad customers will receive £63.00 in credit when they top up.
The credit will be applied at your meter, once a top-up has been made.
The maximum vend limit is £175. To receive the discount in one full payment, keypad/pre-pay customers should not exceed a single top up value of £112.
Top ups over this value means that payment of the discount will be split, with the balance received in later vends up to the maximum £175 limit.
Moving home or switching supplier
If you move home or switch supplier, your supplier will automatically confirm whether you are eligible under the scheme rules.
This may depend on when your account was active.
If you use pre-pay/ keypad and have not yet received the credit, you should top up before moving home or completing your switch to your new supplier where possible.
Renting, shared homes, and multiple properties
The payment is applied for each eligible domestic property.
If you have an electricity account in your name, the discount will be applied to your account.
If your landlord holds the electricity account, the discount will be applied to that account.
If your bill is lower than the discount
If your bill is lower than the discount, any remaining amount will stay on your account and will be used as credit to reduce future bills.
If your account is already in credit
If your account is in credit, the discount will be added to your balance. It will stay on your account and be used against future bills or electricity usage.
Your data
The scheme uses existing account and meter information.
You do not need to provide extra information or apply for support.
Your information will be handled by your electricity supplier in line with data protection law.
Protect yourself from scams
You will never be asked to apply for this scheme.
You will never be asked for your bank details or to pay an amount of money to make a claim to the Household Electricity Discount Scheme.
If you get a message asking for either of these, it will be a scam.
You should report any suspicious emails or text messages asking for your bank details.
Problems with your discount
Contact your electricity supplier first if you think:
- you should have received the electricity discount but haven't
or
- there is a problem with the credit applied to your account or meter
If you have complained to your supplier and are unhappy with the outcome, you can contact the Consumer Council for free and independent help.
Donating your discount
Households who do not need the discount and can afford to do so, may wish consider making a donation to a fuel poverty charity to support those most affected by energy costs.
Contact
If you have queries about the scheme, contact NI Energy Advice Service:
phone: 0800 111 4455
email: nienergyadvice@nihe.gov.uk
- NI Energy Advice - get in touch
The Department for the Economy is responsible for this scheme.