Steps towards rolling out the stalled £600 energy support payment for households in Northern Ireland could begin as early as next week, UK government papers suggest.
The payment will be distributed by the electricity supplier a household is registered with on January 2, 2023, according to a document from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Funds will be issued to the companies no later than six working days after the government has received certain assurances.
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It suggests some households could begin receiving the support payment by the second week in January, but no specific dates have been confirmed.
The paper said the "voucher validity period" runs until March 31, which suggests they will need to be used by that date.
But there could be some leeway for complications which arise, as the "end date" for the scheme is listed as June 30.
The government document also said a "dry run" was carried out on December 11 to test the ability of the network operator NIE Networks to provide necessary meter data to suppliers.
Vouchers are to be sent to those who pay their electric by credit upon receipt of a bill or via a pre-payment meter - around 500,000 households in Northern Ireland.
The vouchers will be able to redeemed for cash or paid into a bank account.
Customers who pay by direct debit are due to receive the £600 support payment automatically into their bank accounts.
The £600 includes a £400 payment as part of a UK-wide support scheme and an additional £200 in recognition of Northern Ireland's greater dependence on home heating oil.
Consumers in the rest of the UK have already begun to receive their £400 energy support payment amid the cost-of-living crisis.
There had been uncertainty over the payments to Northern Ireland households due to the region's separate energy market and the collapse of Stormont power-sharing.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris earlier this month welcomed the planned roll-out of the scheme.
"I am acutely aware of the uncertainty and frustration that people across Northern Ireland have felt about their energy bill support," he said.
"Families can start the new year knowing that they will receive the full support from January.
"I am grateful that officials and ministers and energy suppliers have found a solution, especially given the complexity of NI's energy market, although I would have liked to have seen Northern Ireland political parties deliver this, as part of a restored Executive."
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Is the payment enough or too little too late? Perhaps you think wealthier residences should not be eligible? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
