As part of Budget 2025, the Government approved a new tranche of Electricity Credits, the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV through which over 2.2 million households received two payments of €125 (inclusive of VAT) in the November/December 2024 and January/February 2025 billing cycles, at a total estimated cost of €570 million (excluding VAT).
The scheme was operated by the Distribution System Operator (ESB Networks) and electricity suppliers, and overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV came into effect on the commencement of the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Act 2024 on 17 October 2024. Under Section 4(1)(a) of the Act and in line with the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme Regulations 2024, ESB Networks in its role as the Distribution System Operator was required to determine the number of domestic electricity accounts on the scheme's "relevant date" on the 22 October 2024.
Following this determination, ESB Networks issued notification that there were 2,237,381 Meter Point Reference Numbers (MPRNs) registered on the Central Market System with a classification of domestic customer at that time.
ESB Networks further notified the Minister on 20 December 2024 (Effective Date) that the number of registered MPRNs on the Central Market System with a classification of urban domestic customers (DG1) or rural domestic customers (DG2) had increased to 2,243,950.
Across the two payment periods of the Act, a total of 4,255,753 credits were granted to eligible domestic electricity accounts, worth a combined value of €488,049,754.04. A total of 226,269 credits, worth a combined €25,948,528.92, remained unallocated and were returned by suppliers to ESBN for onward transfer to my Department.
Aside from the 191,611 credits across the two payment periods that were designated for low-usage customers and remained unallocated, 34,646 credits remained unallocated due to the supplier allocated with the credits being unable to identify an account holder for the respective MPRNs.
