Northern Ireland

Electricity customers face inflation-busting price hikes

The three main electricity suppliers in the north are raising their prices from October 1
The three main electricity suppliers in the north are raising their prices from October 1 The three main electricity suppliers in the north are raising their prices from October 1

THOUSANDS of Northern Ireland electricity customers will face inflation-busting price rises this autumn.

SSE Airtricity and Electric Ireland, the second and third biggest suppliers respectively, are increasing their prices.

SSE Airtricity is raising prices by almost 7 per cent or £39 a year for the typical household.

Electric Ireland is introducing an 8 per cent increase or around £44 a year.

The firms said the rises were mainly due to increased costs from the network provider and the market operator.

The price rises are above the UK's consumer price index inflation rate of around 2 per cent.

Power NI, the biggest supplier, announced earlier this month that it is raising its prices by 6.1 per cent.

David Manning, director of Home Energy at SSE Airtricity, said: "We're disappointed to have to announce an increase in our electricity prices at this time."

"While there have been reductions in wholesale energy costs these have been negated by external cost increases applied to all energy suppliers," he said.

"As always, we will do everything we can to ensure we consistently deliver value to our customers in their electricity supply, and to provide the greatest possible help that our customers expect from us."

Clare McAllister, Northern Ireland residential manager of Electric Ireland, said: "We very much value our customers and so the decision to change prices is not taken lightly."

"As ever, we are committed to keeping prices as low as possible and we would like to assure our customers that even when this price increase is applied, our prices will continue to offer great value for families," she said.

SSE has about 170,000 household customers - just over a fifth of the market.

Electric Ireland has around 98,000 customers.

Power NI supplies electricity to more than half of the north's homes.

All three companies plan to introduce their price hikes from October 1.

The Consumer Council said customers need to be told exactly why their electricity prices have increased.

Paulino Garcia, head of energy policy at the council said the price rises will "confuse consumers as the wholesale gas market has fallen by 49 per cent over the last year".

"It is important that consumers in Northern Ireland know that they are being treated fairly," he said.

"Consumers, especially those in vulnerable circumstances, will need to understand exactly how this increase has occurred.

"This is especially relevant as the Office of National Statistics Family Spending Survey shows that households in Northern Ireland spend £68, or 11.50 per cent, more per year on electricity than the UK average."

He added: "We will be seeking assurances from both SSE Airtricity and Electric Ireland that their latest increases are fair and justified."