Cost of living: Three criteria households must meet to get third electricity credit

The third and final instalment of the much-anticipated electricity credit is set to be applied to accounts across Ireland within the next few weeks.

The first credit was handed out to accounts beginning December 1, while the second was applied starting on January 1, and the final credit will be applied to accounts from March 1.

READ MORE: Social welfare Ireland: Eligibility criteria for €340 per month cash boost after increase

There are three conditions households must meet to qualify for the last energy credit, worth €450 altogether. Here's everything you need to know about the final instalment:

• You are registered as either an urban domestic customer (classified as DG1) or a rural domestic customer (classified as DG2)
• You are registered with an electricity supplier in the Republic of Ireland and have a unique Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) – you can find this number on your bill
• You do not have a low-usage electricity account

Properties with very low levels of use will not automatically get the credits.

The low usage threshold is where you use less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.

The low usage threshold does not apply in the following cases:

• You are on or are entitled to be on, the vulnerable customer register
• You have a hardship PAYG meter
• You have a microgeneration account

What if I have a prepaid account?

Your supplier contacts you by text, email or on your top-up note to tell you the credit has been applied to your account.

Most pre-pay electricity meters accept each of the €150 credits in full.

Your supplier should give you specific instructions on how to redeem your credits.

What happens if I don't get the credit?

If you do not get the credit and want to log an objection with your electricity supplier, you must do this by 30 June 2024.

If you cannot resolve the issue with your supplier, you can contact the CRU’s Customer Care Team for help.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.