From today, households in Northern Ireland who pay for their energy via prepayment meters (keypads) or quarterly standard credit, will receive a £600 voucher to help manage the rising cost of energy bills.
The scheme is part of a number of new schemes announced by the UK Government last December, designed to provide additional support to households struggling with the rising cost of energy bills. The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS Alternative Funding) and Alternative Fuel Payments (AFP) schemes were also included in December’s announcement.
The Government released further details at the beginning of this month, confirming that all households in Northern Ireland will receive a single £600 payment, consisting of £400 provided under the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) and £200 from the AFP.
Vulnerable customers eligible for the vouchers will have priority, including customers that are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically ill. Some vulnerable households received vouchers as early as last week and delivery will continue throughout January and February.
The voucher will be provided through the post, as a letter showing the relevant electricity supplier’s badge as well as the UK Government’s and will contain a barcode. For those paying by standard credit, the letter will be addressed to the account holder, whilst vouchers sent to customers using a keypad meter will be addressed to ‘the occupier’.
The Government recommends going to the Post Office to pay the money directly into the customer’s bank account as the easiest method of redeeming the vouchers.
Customers using prepayment meters and those who do not have a bank or credit union account, can also redeem their vouchers at the Post Office, subject to their branch having the cash available.
Households in Northern Ireland with a Direct Debit arrangement with an energy supplier will automatically receive the £600 payment into their bank and will not need to receive a voucher.
The payments have been described as a “much need and welcome support for Northern Ireland households” by Northern Ireland secretary of state, Chris Heaton-Harris.
“We’ve been working flat out to make sure households across Northern Ireland get the support they’ve been promised this winter, so it’s great to see this landing where it’s needed, with vulnerable customers first in line. The coming weeks will see each household in Northern Ireland receive £600 to help with their energy bills, so they can keep safe and warm this winter without worrying about the cost,” said Graham Stuart, Energy and Climate minister.
“I urge all customers due to receive vouchers to look out for them and redeem them as soon as possible, so they can benefit from this support worth hundreds of pounds. This is the latest step we’re taking to help households in the face of global strains on the energy market.”
