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Firmus Energy announces 12 per cent hike in gas prices

Firmus energy is hiking gas bills by 12 per cent
Firmus energy is hiking gas bills by 12 per cent Firmus energy is hiking gas bills by 12 per cent

GAS prices for Firmus Energy's thousands of customers are to increase by 12 per cent from next month, the company has announced.

The price hike will take effect in the Ten Towns area from October 1 and in the Greater Belfast area from October 4.

A typical household bill will rise by £6.25 per month or £1.44 per week in the Ten Towns area, and £5.47 per month or £1.26 per week in Greater Belfast area.

It comes after SSE Airtricity last week announced an 18 per cent increase in its electricity tariffs and an 11 per cent rise in gas prices for domestic and small business users in Greater Belfast.

Firmus said the move reflects increases in the wholesale cost of gas in the global market and the cost of transporting natural gas in Northern Ireland.

Letters are being sent to customers advising them of the increase.

Firmus has 49,000 customers in Greater Belfast with more than 38,000 customers in the Ten Towns area.

Its managing director Michael Scott said: "We know that price stability is important for our customers and regrettably this increase is unavoidable."

He said it has "engaged extensively" with the utility regulator, the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council in relation to its regulated tariff in the Ten Towns licensed area.