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Electric Ireland to increase bills by 3.7 per cent from February

Electric Ireland's tariff rises by 3.7 per cent on February 1, equating to an increase of around £18 a year on the average bill
Electric Ireland's tariff rises by 3.7 per cent on February 1, equating to an increase of around £18 a year on the average bill Electric Ireland's tariff rises by 3.7 per cent on February 1, equating to an increase of around £18 a year on the average bill

THE north's third biggest power provider Electric Ireland is increasing bills for nearly 100,000 customers from February 1.

The 3.7 per cent increase equates to about 35p a week, or £18 a year.

And the move by the supplier virtually negates the 4.1 per cent reduction in tariffs which it brought in last August.

The utility firm says the rise is due to recent costs impacting the broader electricity system and market, and it is likely rival providers will now follow suit.

Electric Ireland's residential manager in the north Clare McAllister said: “We always aim to offer customers as competitive a rate as possible and have sought to minimise this price rise, which has been made necessary by external costs.

“Last year we were able to pass on a reduction in external costs with a price decrease and, while no rise is ideal, we have worked to ensure that even when this increase is applied, prices are still below the level they were in July.”