What is SSE Airtricity Budget Plan?

SSE Airtricity Budget Plan allows you to spread your annual energy costs, across 12 monthly payments, at no extra cost. You'll pay a fixed amount each month. The amount is based on your usage history and is reviewed every four months to align to your usage habits, which may change for several reasons.

Why choose SSE Airtricity Budget Plan?

• Control your finances - you'll know what to pay each month
• Monthly bills - let you keep better track of your energy usage (Note: if you're interested in understanding your energy usage, you can get more granular information through your Smart Meter)
• Ease - payments are made automatically by direct debit

How is SSE Airtricity Budget Plan calculated?

We’ll calculate your total energy costs for the next year based on:

• Your past and current energy usage
• Seasonal changes
• Your rates

Your monthly payment is the total calculated energy costs per year divided by 12. An extra 5% is added to this monthly payment to cover changes in your typical energy use and any price changes that may be applied during the period. For new customers, an extra 15% is added initially. This reduces to 5% after four months because, at that point, there will be enough consumption history for a more accurate calculation. There is no charge for SSE Airtricity Budget Plan, the extra 5% / 15% is credited into your account to reduce your balance.

After every fourth bill, we'll review your monthly payment amount to ensure that it is suitable for your energy usage. This is important to prevent underpayments (a debit on your account) or large credit balances building up. Credit or debit balances can occur when:

• Your usage changes significantly (e.g. you start using electrical heaters instead of oil or, you do an energy efficiency home upgrade i.e. install solar panels or insulation.)
• Your rates change
• Your bill was estimated

If your monthly payment needs to change, the new monthly payment amount will appear on your next bill with details explaining the change. To keep your monthly payments as accurate as possible you can submit regular meter readings. This gives accurate usage information when your monthly payment amount calculation is reviewed. If a credit/debit balance has built up in the four months before a review, this will be balanced out in the payment amounts for the following four months.

Annual Review: Each Budget Plan cycle is 12 months - at the end of the cycle we'll review all your payments and charges for the year. If your account is in credit, or in debit under €500 we'll roll this over to your next cycle. If your account has a debit that is over €500 you'll be asked to pay this balance before starting your next cycle.