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Gas bills cut 'won't apply in Belfast'

Firmus energy is cutting its domestic gas bills in the Ten Towns area by 21 per cent from April
Firmus energy is cutting its domestic gas bills in the Ten Towns area by 21 per cent from April Firmus energy is cutting its domestic gas bills in the Ten Towns area by 21 per cent from April

THOUSANDS of natural gas users in the north will see their bills slashed by around £135 a year following a tariffs reduction starting from next month.

Firmus energy is dropping prices by 21 per cent across its Ten Towns network area (comprising Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Limavady, Derry and Newry), where it has around 48,000 customers.

But at this stage the cuts won't apply for 50,000 users in its Greater Belfast license area, where the supplier says it is currently undertaking a tariff review, though it expects to make a further announcement in the near future.

The firmus cut follows on from an 8.8 per cent price drop in October, and means its domestic and small business customers will now pay almost 30 per cent less for their natural gas than last summer.

The typical bill reduction is £134.98 a year for domestic credit customers and £128.40 for those on a pay-as-you-go arrangement.

Firmus energy managing director Michael Scott said: “This represents more good news for customers in our Ten Towns network area and is particularly welcome against a backdrop of increased living costs.

“We are committed to providing its customers with the best possible prices, and they can expect to receive confirmation of this good news via letter in the next few days.”

The reduction follows consultation with the Utility Regulator, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland and Department of the Economy, who have all welcomed the firmus reduction.

Paulino Garcia, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council, said: “This is the largest gas price decrease in the Ten Towns area history, and the second decrease in the last six months.

“The cut will be especially welcome for those in vulnerable circumstances, as the average weekly discretionary income in Northern Ireland is £119 per week, which is approximately £100 lower than in the rest of the UK.”

A number of other energy firms in the north, including the largest supplier Power NI, are expected to make announcements in the coming weeks.

And given the falls being seen in wholesale prices, that is likely to point to bills also being reduced for domestic and commercial users.