Free Electricity Allowence

Londi

I just got my first electric bill today and on the back it says free electricity allowence. I rang electric Ireland who told me this allowence is paid by the social welfare. I never applied for anything and have no dealings with the social welfare.

I rang the social welfare office and gave them my pps number. The said they can't do anything for me as there is no open claims under that pps number. They just wanted me off the phone.

I am the only named person on the electricity and it states that free electricity allowence 48 days@ 1.01381392 and vat on free allowence @13.5%. Anyone any ideas how to get this payment stopped.

Cherry Blossom

It sounds like its a mistake on the part of the electricity company. Did you contact them?

EverythingGood

its part of the household package, are you an OAP?

Londi

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

It sounds like its a mistake on the part of the electricity company. Did you contact them?

I contacted electric Ireland and they told me that it comes from the social welfare. I asked if they could stop it and they said no that I would not to contact social welfare.

Portsalon

Londi wrote: »

I contacted electric Ireland and they told me that it comes from the social welfare. I asked if they could stop it and they said no that I would not to contact social welfare.

Presumably the previous person who was registered to your electricity meter was receiving the credit and hasn't yet bothered to inform the Department that they've changed address (or died?).

The Department pays the electricity allowance to Electric Ireland on the basis of the MPRN and it probably can't link your PPSN to the MPRN.

You need to contact the previous account holder and ask them to notify the Dept that they've changed address.

Alternatively, just sit tight and wait until its sorted. You've done nothing wrong and have tried to rectify the situation, so hopefully the Department won't even look for a refund.

Londi

Portsalon wrote: »

Presumably the previous person who was registered to your electricity meter was receiving the credit and hasn't yet bothered to inform the Department that they've changed address (or died?).

The Department pays the electricity allowance to Electric Ireland on the basis of the MPRN and it probably can't link your PPSN to the MPRN.

You need to contact the previous account holder and ask them to notify the Dept that they've changed address.

Alternatively, just sit tight and wait until its sorted. You've done nothing wrong and have tried to rectify the situation, so hopefully the Department won't even look for a refund.

Thanks for the response. What is strange about the situation is the previous tenant was with pre pay power but I moved to electric Ireland. From what I read online a new letter would need to be issued to electric Ireland to receive the allowence.

Londi

EverythingGood wrote: »

its part of the household package, are you an OAP?

I'm not an OAP.

Portsalon

Londi wrote: »

Thanks for the response. What is strange about the situation is the previous tenant was with pre pay power but I moved to electric Ireland. From what I read online a new letter would need to be issued to electric Ireland to receive the allowence.

That certainly seems strange. My understanding is that the Department pays a monthly amount to customers using Prepay Power. Perhaps the previous tenant didn't realise this!

Best thing to do is to contact the HBP section of the Dept. by email and tell them what's happening (or you could just sit tight if you prefer!).

This is the link: https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/secure/GENENQ.aspx (scroll down through "Subject" until you get to Household Benefits).

BohsCeltic

Sorry for butting in on your thread but i didn't want to start a new one. My Mother is over 70 but has pre paid meters. How can she provide a bill for these ?

EverythingGood

BohsCeltic wrote: »

Sorry for butting in on your thread but i didn't want to start a new one. My Mother is over 70 but has pre paid meters. How can she provide a bill for these ?

All she need to do is apply for the household package and provider her a/c no and MPRN details.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/extra_social_welfare_benefits/household_benefits_package.html

Money paid direct to her bank account or into post office with pension.