A €200 electricity credit will be made to households throughout Ireland next week.
The credit is part of measures taken by the Government to combat the rising cost of living in the country.
Originally going to be €100, it was doubled to €200 due to surging energy costs.
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Around 2.25 million account holders will benefit from the scheme, with the payment to be automatically applied to all electricity accounts, meaning no action is needed from the holder of the account.
The Government has confirmed the €176.22 credit line (ex VAT) will start appearing on bills from April.
However, although most households will be issued the credit in early April, some will need to wait a while longer, depending on the billing date of their household.
This could see some households waiting until May or June for the credit to be applied.
If you are living in a rental property and are responsible for paying your own electricity bill, the credit will be passed on to you.
However, if your landlord pays your electricity bill, it will be up to them whether or not they pass on any of the money.
The Residential Tenancies Board will be tasked with handling disputes by renters who do not see the savings passed onto them.
The Government said: “The credit is designed to provide all domestic electricity account holders with a contribution to their electricity bills. In some cases, tenants in rented accommodation pay their landlord for their electricity (and do not have a domestic electricity account in their own name). The expectation, in those circumstances, is that landlords will pass on the credit to their tenants.
“The Department of the Environment , Climate and Communications has partnered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to ensure that this is communicated widely across the rental sector, to landlords and tenants alike. Those using and ultimately paying for electricity (whether in their electricity bills or included in their rent payments) should be the beneficiaries of the Scheme.
“In the event of a dispute arising, tenants and landlords are encouraged to try and resolve the matter together first by keeping lines of communication open. In the event that the dispute cannot be resolved between the parties, the matter may be referred to the RTB’s free mediation service, where an independent mediator helps both parties to come up with a solution that is mutually beneficial.
“Alternatively, the parties can apply for adjudication with the RTB, where an independent adjudicator makes a finding based on the evidence related to the case.”
Pay as you go customers will also be eligible for the credit.
The Government said: “The €200 electricity credit will be applied over the course of three separate top-ups or vends, for customers using hardship prepay meters.
“These meters have a €300 credit limit, and the Government credit could put the meter over this limit.
“As a solution, the credit will be broken down into three smaller credits of €90, €90 and €20, which can be redeemed over the course of a few days – by the customer making a €10 payment towards their electricity bill. Customers will be advised only to pay €10 on each occasion to receive their credit, and to allow one day between each payment.”
Those who own multiple homes will see the credit applied to each account they hold and will receive the €200 credit for each property.
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