You don't have to face energy arrears alone. Apart from BHEAGA, these organisations and services can also help — with advice, support, your legal rights, and your options.
These are the official bodies whose data and guidelines underpin the figures BHEAGA calculates for you. Click on the name of each official body to get the link to their website.
The ISI publishes official guidelines on what constitutes reasonable living expenses for people with debts — including energy costs. These guidelines, established under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, are consulted by BHEAGA in the calculation of your energy budget. If you cannot pay your energy bills in full as they fall due, then these guidelines are particularly relevant to you.
The CSO publishes median annual household gas bill data and energy price statistics for Ireland. BHEAGA uses this data to keep its gas figures grounded in real Irish household costs.
The Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research, published from within St Vincent de Paul, defines what Irish households need to live with dignity. This research informs the ISI guidelines and, in turn, the figures BHEAGA produces.
Once you have paid BHEAGA's €19.27 price, we will email you your personalised Energy Budget and Payment Proposal letter. Forward both to your supplier's dedicated arrears team. The links for the main suppliers are included in our email to you, but are also accessible below by clicking on the name of each supplier:
Electric Ireland's customer care team handles payment arrangements. Have your account number and your BHEAGA energy budget ready before you call or write (or for when/if they subsequently contact you).
Bord Gáis handles both gas and electricity accounts. Contact their support team to negotiate an affordable payment plan using your personalised BHEAGA figures as your basis.
SSE Airtricity supplies both electricity and gas across Ireland. Use their contact page to reach the team responsible for dealing with your personalised BHEAGA Energy Budget and Payment Proposal letter.
Energia customers can reach their billing and arrears team directly via their support page to discuss payment options based on your personalised BHEAGA Energy Budget and Payment Proposal letter.
These services provide free, confidential advice and in the case of the Department of Social Protection, emergency payments for households in serious difficulty with energy bills. St Vincent de Paul can also help (usually through the provision of vouchers).
MABS is Ireland's free, independent money advice and budgeting service. They can help you to manage debt and understand your rights. They also provide access to the "Hardship Funds" operated by three of the four suppliers listed above (SSE Airtricity have no Fund in operation currently). Available by phone (0818 07 2000), online, or in person through 60+ offices nationwide. This is one of the most important calls you can make if you have already made regular payments using your BHEAGA Energy Budget and Payment Proposal letter. Your supplier may be prepared to award a credit to your energy account as a result.
Citizens Information explains your rights as an energy customer in plain language — covering the Vulnerable Customer Register, disconnection rules, and what suppliers are legally required to offer you before cutting off your supply.
Your local Intreo office can process Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments for households in severe financial difficulty. The Fuel Allowance scheme (€33/week during winter) and Household Benefits Package may also be available to you depending on your circumstances.
SVP volunteers can provide emergency assistance with energy bills and other essentials. Contact them confidentially through their national office or local conference. They will not judge you — they are there to help.
Irish law protects energy customers from arbitrary disconnection and requires suppliers to offer manageable payment plans. Know your rights.
The CRU regulates Irish energy suppliers and sets out the rules they must follow when dealing with customers in debt — including requirements around affordable payment plans, the Vulnerable Customer Register, and disconnection moratoriums. If your supplier is not following these rules, the CRU can intervene.
If your energy supplier has not responded to your BHEAGA payment plan request or you feel is treating you unfairly, you can use the supplier's complaints handling process. Where your supplier has not resolved your complaint to your satisfaction, you can make a formal complaint directly to the CRU. This is a free process and the CRU has the authority to require suppliers to act.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission explains your rights around estimated versus actual billing, refunds of credit balances, and what energy companies can and cannot do when chasing payment.
Once your arrears are resolved, switching supplier can meaningfully reduce your ongoing bills. These independent comparison services are free to use.
Bonkers.ie is Ireland's longest-running independent price comparison service for energy. Compare electricity and gas prices from all major suppliers and see exactly how much you could save by switching.
Switcher.ie compares electricity and gas deals across all Irish providers and can manage the switching process for you at no cost. Switching supplier does not affect your existing debt with your current provider.
Reducing how much energy your home uses is the most sustainable way to lower your bills. The SEAI offers grants and free upgrades specifically for lower-income households.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers fully funded home energy upgrades — including insulation, heating controls, and heat pumps — at no cost to eligible lower-income households. If you receive a means-tested payment from the Department of Social Protection, you may qualify.
Even if you don't qualify for a fully funded upgrade, SEAI offers significant grants for insulation, heating systems, solar panels, and more. Reducing energy consumption is the most direct way to reduce your bills in the long run.
The Warmer Homes Scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners who are particularly vulnerable to the cold — including households with young children, older adults, and those living with long-term illness. Citizens Information explains the eligibility criteria clearly.
If you're in arrears right now, the two most important things to do are to download your BHEAGA Energy Budget and Payment Proposal letter and forward them to your energy supplier(s). Use your BHEAGA weekly figure as your basis for any payment plan conversation. Please also check out the services available above and our Frequently Asked Questions section for details of further help available from BHEAGA.
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