No energy credit in Budget 2027
An energy credit is money taken off every home's electricity bill. Budget 2027, presented on 6 October 2026, does not have one: there is none in the Minister for Finance's speech, in the Tax Policy Changes or in the Expenditure Report (checked 6 October, 15:20).
What the Budget does for energy bills instead, each in its own words:
Department of Finance, Budget 2027 Tax Policy Changes, 5.1: "Carbon taxes on kerosene and on natural gas will be reduced to €48.50 t/CO2 emitted until 2030."
Budget 2027 Expenditure Report, Social Protection: "Increase the Fuel Allowance by €5 per week to €43 per week."
Fuel Allowance 2027 has the means limit and the SEAI grants Fuel Allowance can open.
Budget 2027: what changed for home energy has every measure, and the carbon tax cut on home heating oil works out what it is worth to your house.
What the Government did on energy costs this year
The Department of Finance's tax paper for this Budget lists the energy measures taken in spring 2026. In March:
Department of Finance, Tax Strategy Group paper TSG 26/09 (July 2026): "the March package also provided for an extension of the fuel allowance by four weeks and a 2 cent temporary reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy."
In April, a carbon tax rise on home heating fuels was put back:
TSG 26/09: "the Government also announced a deferral in the planned 1 May 2026 carbon tax increase until 14 October 2026. This impacts MGO and other fuels such as kerosene heating oil, natural gas and solid fuels."
That rise now comes on 14 October 2026. What the carbon tax adds to oil and gas has the figures for a tank of oil and a year of gas.
What the tax paper says about energy supports
The same paper says what the OECD advises on help with energy costs:
TSG 26/09: "The OECD has advocated for targeted and temporary supports, while preserving incentives to save energy."
That is advice the paper reports, not a decision. The decision is in the Budget.
VAT on gas and electricity
The lower VAT rate on gas and electricity is set until the end of 2030. The Department of Finance's VAT paper lists it under the 9% rate:
Department of Finance, TSG 26/07 (July 2026): "It also includes the supply of gas and electricity to 31 December 2030."
VAT on heat pumps, solar panels and home upgrades has the rates for the work itself.
A credit is paid once
A credit comes off a bill and is gone. Using less energy brings every bill down, every year. SEAI's grants pay towards the jobs that do that:
| Job | SEAI grant |
|---|---|
| Heating controls | €700 |
| Attic insulation | €1,100 to €2,000 |
| Cavity wall insulation | €700 to €1,800 |
| Heat pump, radiators and boiler scrappage | up to €14,500 for a house |
SEAI's amounts, last checked 2026-10-03. The full list is on every grant, by house type. If you are thinking of waiting for the Budget before you apply, Budget 2027 and SEAI grants sets out what SEAI did the last times grants went up.
Check my home to see which jobs suit your home and what the grants add up to.