Government Energy Support FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I no longer receiving the Energy Price Guarantee discount – I thought the scheme was due to run until March 2024?

The Energy Price Guarantee was introduced in Northern Ireland in November 2022 to protect millions of households from the rising cost of energy. Since then, wholesale energy costs have been gradually falling.

As announced in the Government’s Spring Budget, the Energy Price Guarantee was extended at its current level to the end of June 2023, after which the scheme will act as a safety net until March 2024 should wholesale prices increase significantly during this period.

At present, this means households will no longer receive Energy Price Guarantee support from July.

How will the removal of the Energy Price Guarantee discount affect my bills?

Due to differences in the operation of the energy market, the removal of the Energy Price Guarantee discount from July 2023 means households in Northern Ireland will likely experience a small increase in their energy bills.

Overall, typical energy bills were around 20% lower in Northern Ireland lower during the winter period than in Great Britain.

Energy bills will still depend on how much energy is used.

What will be the change in the Energy Price Guarantee discount rate in July from the previous quarter?

The Energy Price Guarantee previously provided households in Northern Ireland with a unit rate reduction of 3.8p/kWh for electricity and 2.6p/kWh for gas from April to June 2023 (exclusive of VAT).

From July 2023, households will no longer receive an Energy Price Guarantee discount due to falling wholesale energy prices.

The Energy Price Guarantee will remain in place as a safety net until March 2024 should energy prices increase significantly during this period.

The cost of energy is still high – what support is available?

The cost of energy in Northern Ireland is at its lowest since November 2022.

Further Government support in direct payments is being provided to vulnerable households, including a £900 payment for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and an extra £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit.

If eligible, households will be paid automatically in the same way they receive normal benefit payments.

Customers should contact their energy supplier if they have concerns about their energy bill.

How much energy bill support have households in Northern Ireland received?

The Energy Price Guarantee, together with the one-off £600 energy support payment has covered around half of a typical energy bill this past winter, with households in Northern Ireland receiving equivalent support to Great Britain.

This means all households have paid less for their energy bills than they would have otherwise with no government intervention.

What is the Government doing to protect consumers beyond March 2024?

Government is working with consumer groups and industry to explore the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024. Further information will be provided in due course.

Where can I find further information on the Energy Price Guarantee?

Further information on the Energy Price Guarantee is available on the GOV.UK website by searching ‘Energy Price Guarantee GOV.UK’ [this phrase can be searched in a browser].

• PPM Levelisation

Why is the Government not equalising charges for PPM and Direct Debit customers in Northern Ireland as it is doing in Great Britain?

As the energy market operates differently in Northern Ireland, the Government announced at Spring Budget that PPM charges would only be equalised where there was evidence of a PPM premium.

Following engagement with industry, the Utility Regulator, and consumer groups, the Government has concluded that the disparity between costs faced by PPM and Direct Debit users in Northern Ireland does not exist in the same way that it does in Great Britain.

This includes overall lower levels of PPM debt in Northern Ireland, as well as the ability to change to Direct Debit more easily. Due to these specific circumstances, the PPM measure will not apply in Northern Ireland.