What costs make up my electricity bill?

Every household is different, however there are common themes that occur in most households regarding energy consumption. Acknolwedging which electrical appliances use the most electricity and also understanding even basic energy-saving tips, can have a positive impact in terms of a lower electricity bill.

This is the breakdown of energy usage in a typical household.

Lights use more than anything in a typical household, so why not switch to energy saving lightbulbs and remember to turn off lights when you leave a room? Also, educating other family members, particularly children, on the need to switch off lights and any electrical appliances they have finished using, will help to reduce your electricity consumption.

Energy saving tips

Here's some helpful tips and advice to reduce your bills.

Find out more

Understanding my electricity bill

If you're not sure of what the different items on your bill relate to, see below for a full breakdown or watch our quick video guide.

High Electricity Bill

If your bill is higher than you expected there are a number of reasons why this might be.

How to submit a meter reading

A separate company, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks provides the services for meter reading. If you miss the meter reader you can submit your meter reading online, provided that it's only been a day or two since they called.

I received a reminder letter but I've already paid.

If you’ve paid your bill in full or entered into a payment plan within the last seven days the reminder letter may have been posted prior to your payment being received or your plan being set up. Please check the date on your letter. If the date on the letter is before the date you paid you don't need to do anything.

Can I view my bill online?

You can view your bill online and access lots of other benefits (including savings of up to £60 per year) by registering for our paperless billing service Energy Online.

How do I get a copy of a previous bill?

You can get in touch with us to request a copy of a previous bill. Please note that there may be a charge for this service. You can also download, save and print bills from the last 2 years using our online billing service Energy Online. Simply log in and click ‘My bills/letters’ to view.

How is my bill calculated?

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) read all electricity meters four times a year and send the meter readings for our customers to us. When we receive your meter reading we work out how many units of electricity you have used since the last time your meter was read and multiply this figure by the current unit rate for your tariff. Your tariff and current unit rate can be found on Page 2 of your bill.

How can I tell if my bill is estimated?

If the meter reader is unable to read your meter when they visit we will use an estimated reading to produce your bill. We use your usage history to calculate estimated readings. If your bill is based an estimated reading the letter ‘E’ will be shown on page 2 of your bill in the section entitled ‘This period’s electricity use’.

Accurate billing with Power NI

Simply get in touch and provide us with an up-to-date reading and your customer account number...

Can I get a refund?

To request a refund please give us a call on 03457455455. Take a note of your meter reading before you call as you may be asked for this to ensure that your account calculations are correct. This is particularly important if you have received an estimated bill.

Call us

03457 455 455

Phone lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Calls are recorded for quality assurance purposes.

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