Business

Power NI announces 27.5% price increase from July 1

Power NI is the largest domestic electricity supplier in the north with approximately 461,000 customers
Power NI is the largest domestic electricity supplier in the north with approximately 461,000 customers Power NI is the largest domestic electricity supplier in the north with approximately 461,000 customers

Power NI has announced a 27.5% increase to its domestic electricity tariff from July 1.

It follows a 6.9% increase on July 1 2021 and a 21.4% rise on January 1 2022. The Utility Regulator said it will take the average annual bill to around £944. The average annual bill had been £571 in the year to July 2021.

Power NI is the largest domestic electricity supplier in the north with approximately 461,000 customers.

William Steele, Director of Power NI Customer Solutions, said this morning: "We work hard to keep our prices as low as possible and have absorbed costs for as long as we can. Regrettably, geopolitical factors outside our control, have resulted in prolonged high costs in the international wholesale energy markets.

"Like other suppliers we have no choice but to pay these increased costs, which feed into the price of wholesale electricity and have a knock-on effect on tariffs."

Listen: Raymond Gormley from the Consumer Council

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, said it was Power NI’s second tariff increase this year and its biggest since October 2008. 

"It will impact more than half Northern Ireland’s households, many of whom are already upset, worried, and angry about energy price increases. While consumers get that price increases are happening due to global reasons, that knowledge does not help when it comes to paying their bills.

“With 53% of prepayment electricity consumers telling us they have had to cut back on food purchases to be able to afford a top up, many households are going to need significant financial support in the coming winter."

He called for the Department for Communities to re-run its Energy Payment Support Scheme "for a wider group of people" and for the re-establishment of the Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme.

“We urge anyone who is struggling to pay their energy bills or to top-up their meter, to contact their supplier directly for help and support. We also encourage consumers to think about ways they can reduce their energy costs through energy efficiency and, importantly, if possible, trying to save over the summer months to cover energy costs during winter 2022-23," he added.

  • The Consumer Council’s website has a number of free resources including Switch On: A Guide for Home Energy Users to help consumers be more energy efficient at home.
  • Consumers can also get free independent advice from the Consumer Council website and by calling it on Freephone 0800 121 6022 or emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk

Read more: Electricity companies SSE Airtricity and Budget Energy increase prices