Northern Ireland’s £63 Electricity Discount: Who Gets It and How

Who is eligible?

The Household Electricity Discount Scheme applies to eligible domestic electricity properties in Northern Ireland. It is not based on income, electricity consumption or the amount you top up. Businesses are not eligible.

For 2026, suppliers will use information held by NIE Networks as of 4 October 2026 to identify eligible domestic and combined meter points. You do not need to register or send a meter reading to claim the discount.

The Department for the Economy says the scheme will continue in 2027 and 2028, but the amounts for those years have not yet been announced.

How bill-paying households receive it

If you pay after receiving a bill, your supplier will add a £60 discount to your electricity account before VAT is calculated. That produces an overall saving of £63.

Look for a line called “NIRO & VAT Govt Credit” on your bill. If the discount is larger than the amount you owe at that point, the remainder stays as account credit to reduce future bills. It is also added to an account that is already in credit.

How keypad and pre-pay customers receive it

If you use a keypad or pre-pay meter, the £63 credit is applied automatically at the meter when you top up. You do not need to buy a special voucher or submit a claim.

The maximum value of one keypad vend is £175. The Department advises that, to receive the full £63 in one payment, your own single top-up should be no more than £112. If it is higher, the discount can be split across subsequent top-ups instead of being lost.

What if you rent, move or switch supplier?

The payment is attached to each eligible domestic property. If the electricity account is in your name, the discount goes to your account. If your landlord holds the account, it goes to that account instead.

If you move home or switch supplier around the payment date, the supplier will check eligibility under the scheme rules. For keypad customers who have not yet received the credit, the Department advises topping up before moving or completing a switch, where possible.

Why Northern Ireland has a credit instead of the Great Britain VAT cut

From October, domestic electricity in Great Britain will temporarily have 0% VAT for six months. The Department for the Economy says that change could not be implemented in Northern Ireland from October, so it arranged an alternative payment.

The £63 is one combined 2026 payment: it includes support linked to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation and the alternative to the temporary VAT reduction. It is separate from Ofgem’s Great Britain energy price cap, which does not apply in Northern Ireland.

If the discount is missing—or a message asks you to claim it

Check your electricity bill or, for pre-pay, your meter balance after your next top-up from 6 October. If the credit has not appeared or you think there is a mistake, contact your electricity supplier first. The Consumer Council can provide free independent help if you have complained and remain unhappy with the outcome.

You will never be asked to apply, pay a fee or provide bank details for this scheme. Treat messages that ask you to do so as scams. For questions about the scheme, the NI Energy Advice Service is available on 0800 111 4455.