Archibald welcomes delivery of electricity bill support
Date published:
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 Caoimhe Archibald 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 editors:
- Further information, is available on NI Direct at Help with 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.
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