Around 860,000 households are set to benefit from a £63 reduction
in their electricity costs as the Household Electricity Discount
Scheme gets under way this week.
Economy Minister Dr has marked the start of
the scheme, as electricity suppliers will automatically apply the
discount from Tuesday 6 October to eligible bill-paying and
pre-pay/keypad customers.
Households who use a pre-pay/keypad will receive £63 in addition
to the value of their next top up. Households who pay a bill will
see the £63 discount applied to their next bill. Households do
not need to apply for the scheme, which is not means tested or
based on consumption.
Minister Archibald said: This £63 will help people
with the cost of electricity as we move towards the winter
months. I appreciate it will not ease all the pressures people
are facing but it is hopefully a welcome payment for workers and
families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. And if there
are people who feel that they do not need this support, I would
encourage them to make a voluntary donation to a fuel poverty
charity, to help those who need it most.
The Scheme will continue in 2027 and 2028, with the value of
future discounts confirmed ahead of payment.
Notes to editor:
1. Further information, is available on NI Direct
at www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/help-your-electricity-bill
2. The Scheme applies to both bill-paying and pre-pay/keypad
customers. Electricity suppliers will apply the discount
automatically to eligible domestic electricity accounts.
Households who pay by bill will see the amount credited to their
account, while pre-pay/keypad customers will receive their
support through the normal top-up process.
3. In June 2026, Treasury approved £85.4 million of funding for
75% of the domestic cost of the Northern Ireland Renewable
Obligation (NIRO) over three years. A further £25.7 million has
been secured to provide additional support in 2026/27, equivalent
to the temporary six months reduction in VAT on domestic
electricity bills being provided in Britain. The Household
Electricity Discount Scheme provides a combined single payment
for this year. The total funding this year is estimated to be
£53m.
