Budget Plans
Budget Plans Explained
A Budget Plan helps spread the cost of your energy usage evenly across the year. We estimate your annual energy costs and divide them into fixed monthly payments, helping you avoid larger seasonal bills and reduce the risk of debt building up.
Calculating your Budget Plan
Your monthly payment is based on:
- Your estimated annual energy usage (This is known as your Estimated Usage Figure (EUF), which is calculated using data and meter readings from NIE.
- Your current tariff
- Any debit or credit balance on your account
- Any eligible debt included within the plan
These factors help us calculate a payment designed to keep your account balanced throughout the year.
Changes to your monthly payment
Your payment may change following a review of your account. We consider:
- Your expected future energy usage
- Seasonal changes in consumption
- Current tariffs and pricing
- Your account balance
This helps ensure your payment remains aligned with your energy costs. We will review your account automatically every 6 months, or after any tariff change, this is to ensure that you don’t fall into a high level of debit or credit. Each time this is reviewed we will send you confirmation, it is important you keep us updated on your contact preferences to receive such information.
A credit balance doesn't always mean your payment should decrease. Many customers build credit during lower-usage months, which is then used to help cover higher winter energy costs.
Your energy use is usually lower during the warmer months. As your monthly payment stays the same throughout the year, any surplus builds up as credit on your account and helps cover the higher energy costs typically seen during winter.
Yes. If your circumstances or energy usage change, please contact us and we'll review your budget plan. We will consider the changes in your circumstances, as well as expected future usage and past usage.
Yes. Additional payments can help reduce outstanding balances and may help minimise future payment increases.
Yes, you can cancel your Budget Plan at any time. However, if you switch to paying on receipt of bill, your payments will be based on your actual energy usage and may vary throughout the year. This could result in higher bills during the winter months when energy consumption is typically greater.
If you would like to cancel your Budget Plan, please contact us. We can explain how the change will affect your account and advise whether there is any outstanding balance or credit to be considered.
Please note that if you choose to pay on receipt of bill, you will receive a bill every three months and payment will be due 14 days after the bill is issued.