The UK government announced the Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) in a bid to support businesses over the next 12 months, once the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) ends.

This scheme provides discounts to energy usage for a 12-month period between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

For those eligible, Electric Ireland are automatically including discounts on customer’s bills. We endeavour to roll this out as quickly as possible, but timing may differ depending on complexities of individual customer products.

You can read the latest guidance report for EBDS.
You can find FAQs on the EBRS, or on the Advanced Fuel Payment (AFP) initiative here.

1. How do I know if I am eligible for the EBDS?

As with the original EBRS scheme, this scheme will be available to the following non-domestic customers:

These customers must be:

2. I use Gas or Electricity for the purpose of generating power, what do I need to do?

The onus is on you as the customer to inform Electric Ireland that you are excluded from the scheme. For more information on exclusions, please read guidance on energy bill relief scheme.

3. How much will the discount be?

The UK Government have said that the scheme strikes a balance between supporting non-domestic customers over the 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion based on estimated volumes.

The discount will be applied in pence per kilowatt hour (p/KwH), subject to a maximum discount.

For most non-domestic customers in Northern Ireland these maximum discounts have been set at:

The discount is calculated as the difference between the wholesale price associated with an energy contract and the price threshold. The discount is phased in when the contract’s wholesale price exceeds the floor price, until the total discount per MWh reaches the maximum discount for that fuel.

Energy & Trade Intensive Industry (ETII) customers were eligible to apply for a higher level of support. Please note:

Find further information about Energy Bills Discount Scheme support for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETIIs)

4. Who is paying for the discount?

The government are compensating suppliers for the reduction in wholesale gas and electricity unit prices that they are passing onto non-domestic customers.

5. How do I receive the discount?

The majority of non-domestic customers do not need to take any action or apply for the scheme as the discount will be automatically applied to all eligible bills.

However, if you are an Energy & Trade Intensive Industry* (ETII) customer you may have been eligible for the higher level of support and you would have had to apply for this.

Find further information about Energy Bills Discount Scheme support for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETIIs)

6. When will I see the discount on my bill?

Discounts will be implemented from April 2023. EBDS discounts will be backdated to the scheme start date of 1^st April 2023 for all eligible customers.

7. When will the EBDS end?

The EBDS will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

8. What will happen after the EBDS ends?

When the scheme ends on 31 March 2024, your bill will revert to your Electric Ireland agreed tariff rate with no discount.

9. Does Electric Ireland have any other supports for my business at present?

For further guidance, information and supports from Electric Ireland, visit our dedicated business Support Hub.

Please find FAQs on the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS).

Please find FAQs on the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) initiative.