How Does Bord Gais Level Pay Work?

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Updated on 25/11/2025

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Bord Gáis level pay is a budget payment plan designed to help residential customers manage their gas and/or electricity bills by smoothing out the cost over 12 months. Rather than experiencing higher bills during peak usage times, such as the winter months, and lower bills in the summer, Level Pay calculates an estimated annual energy cost and divides it into 12 equal monthly payments paid by Direct Debit.

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How Does Bord Gais Level Pay Work?

The core mechanism of Level Pay is the annual calculation of your expected energy expense. This calculation determines the fixed monthly amount you will pay over the following year.

This approach addresses the seasonal nature of energy consumption, where usage typically spikes in the colder months for heating and lighting.

By paying a consistent, predetermined amount each month to the Bord Gáis Level Pay amount, customers can avoid the financial shock of unexpectedly high winter bills.

Essentially, during periods of low energy use, the payments build up a credit on the account, which then subsidises the higher costs incurred during the high-usage winter period.

Calculation of Your Monthly Payment

Bord Gáis determines your monthly Level Pay amount by estimating your total annual energy usage and applying the current unit rates and charges.

Usage History: For existing customers, the calculation primarily relies on your gas or electricity usage over the last 12 months at your property.
Current Prices: The historical usage is multiplied by the supplier's current unit rates, standing charges, and other applicable fees to determine an estimated annual bill.
Monthly Instalments: This total estimated annual bill is then simply divided by 12 to arrive at the fixed monthly payment amount.
Estimates for New Customers: If a customer is new to Bord Gáis Energy or the premises lacks a 12-month usage history, the company will use alternative methods to estimate consumption. This might involve using annual consumption data from network providers, customer-provided information, or national average consumption figures based on the property's profile.

The payments are then collected automatically via Direct Debit on an agreed-upon date each month.

How Do My Bills Work with Bord Gais Level Pay?

Customers on Level Pay continue to receive a bill every two months, just as they would on a standard payment plan.

However, this bill does not represent the amount due, but rather an update on the account status.

Bi-Monthly Bills: The bills detail the actual energy consumption, the unit rates applied, the Level Pay payment deducted that month, and the running credit or debit balance on the account.
Annual Review: A crucial part of the Level Pay scheme is the annual review. At the end of the 12-month cycle, Bord Gáis compares the total amount paid by the customer against their actual energy usage and charges for the year.
- Overpayment (Credit Balance): If the customer paid more than they used (resulting in a credit balance), this credit is typically carried forward and used to adjust the monthly payment amount for the next year, reducing the new monthly instalments.
- Underpayment (Debit Balance): If the customer used more energy than they paid for (resulting in a debit balance), this debit is usually incorporated into the new Level Pay amount for the upcoming year, increasing the monthly instalments to recover the outstanding amount. In certain cases, if the debt or credit is deemed 'excessive', a one-off payment or refund may be required.

Can I Adjust My Level Pay Amount?

While the primary benefit is consistent monthly payments, the Level Pay amount is not guaranteed to remain static throughout the entire year or for consecutive years.

The amount is subject to change based on various factors to ensure the customer is not significantly overpaying or underpaying their actual consumption costs.

Change in Energy Consumption: A substantial increase or decrease in the household's energy usage is the most common reason for an adjustment. For example, if a customer begins working from home, increasing their daily energy demand, a review may lead to a necessary increase in the monthly payment.
Price and Tariff Changes: If Bord Gáis unit rates, standing charges, or government taxes/levies change significantly, the calculation for the annual bill is updated, leading to an adjustment in the Level Pay amount.
Inaccurate Meter Readings: Consistent use of estimated meter readings can lead to inaccuracies in the account balance. Customers are encouraged to submit regular, actual meter readings to improve the precision of the payments.
Balance Fluctuations: Periodically, Bord Gáis may review the account balance. If a large credit or debit balance is building up mid-year, the monthly payment may be adjusted to avoid an excessive balance at the annual review.

If the monthly Level Pay amount is adjusted, the customer will be notified, typically via SMS and on their next bill, before the revised amount is debited from their bank account.

How Do I Check My Eligibility for Level Pay?

Level Pay is available to residential Bord Gáis Energy customers who meet specific eligibility criteria and provides several key benefits for budgeting.

To be eligible for the Bord Gáis Level Pay scheme, customers generally need to:

Have a valid Direct Debit mandate set up with Bord Gáis Energy.
Have no significant outstanding arrears on their account (e.g., debt of €1,000 or more owed for 60 days or more).
Have had a recent actual meter reading recorded for the property.
Not be on certain specific tariffs, such as smart half-hourly plans or green plans.

Bord Gais Level Pay Scheme Benefits
Benefit	Description
Consistent Budgeting	Payments are the same every month, allowing for easier household financial planning without seasonal bill shocks.
Avoidance of High Winter Bills	The higher consumption costs in winter are spread across the whole year, making the peak period more manageable.
Credit Accumulation	Overpayments during summer (low usage) create a credit buffer to offset high winter costs.
Direct Debit Discount	Customers often retain the percentage discount associated with paying by Direct Debit, which is required for the Level Pay plan.
Payment Date Choice	Customers can often choose a convenient date in the month for their Direct Debit payment to be taken.

How Do I Cancel My Bord Gais Level Pay?

A customer can cancel their Level Pay payment facility by giving Bord Gáis Energy a required notification period, typically 28 days.

Upon cancellation, any credit balance remains on the account and is used towards future standard payments. If the account is in debit, the outstanding amount becomes immediately payable under the company’s standard credit terms.

Bord Gáis Energy also reserves the right to withdraw the Level Pay facility if a customer fails to meet the terms and conditions, such as missed Direct Debit payments or accumulating excessive debt on the account.