The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023

Duty of suppliers to provide the discount

30.—(1) A supplier must, in respect of each supply contract—

(a) determine the base discount, increased discount (in the case of an ETII supply contract) and the discount for any period;

(b) reduce the supply price by the discount;

(c) reduce the amount charged to the customer in respect of supply in any billing period by an amount calculated as the billed supply quantity multiplied by the discount;

(d) for each billing period, inform the customer in its invoice or other statement of account, or in a separate communication given within the period of 15 days beginning on the date that it issued its invoice or other statement of account, in respect of that billing period, of—

(i) the amount of the discount;

(ii) the discounted supply price;

(iii) the amount by which its charges for supply in the billing period have been reduced by applying the discount, or the basis on which that amount can be determined.

(2) In relation to a flexible price contract the information provided by the supplier under paragraph (1)(d) must include an explanation of how the reference wholesale price for the relevant billing period has been calculated.

(3) Where a supplier adjusts its charges to a customer in consequence of energy reconciliation in respect of any period, the adjustment must be made on the basis of the discounted supply price applicable to such period.

(4) In respect of the period from the scheme start date to the scheme introduction date, a supplier must, no later than 45 days after the scheme introduction date—

(a) determine the amount by which its charges to a customer for energy supplied in that period are to be reduced by the application of the discount;

(b) where it has issued an invoice or statement of account to the customer in respect of any such charges, revise such invoice or statement or issue a credit note to reflect such reduction in charges;

(c) where the customer has paid any amount in respect of such charges, credit to the customer’s account the amount by which such payment exceeds what was payable on the basis of the discounted supply price, or at the customer’s request reimburse such amount to the customer.

(5) A supplier must ensure that—

(a) the amounts which are the subject of arrangements it makes with, or requirements it imposes, on any customer in connection with the payment (or assurance of payment) or collection of charges under a supply contract, are amounts calculated by reference to the discounted supply price;

(b) where a customer takes its supply through a prepayment meter, the prepayment meter is set or reset, or other arrangements are made, as soon as reasonably practicable after the scheme introduction date, and thereafter whenever required, to ensure that the amounts paid by the customer over each scheme period reflect charges at the discounted supply price for supply in the scheme period.

(6) Arrangements and requirements referred to in paragraph (5)(a) include (without limitation) arrangements or requirements for advance payment, payment by direct debit, payment by instalments, security or credit cover for payment.