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Latest Firmus gas rise means Belfast customers' bills have doubled in seven months

Firmus energy gas customers will pay an additional 37 per cent on their bills from the start of May
Firmus energy gas customers will pay an additional 37 per cent on their bills from the start of May Firmus energy gas customers will pay an additional 37 per cent on their bills from the start of May

THERE will be a further drain on household finances for customers of the north's largest gas supplier Firmus when it raises tariffs by a whopping 37 per cent from May 3 in its Greater Belfast Network area.

The rise, blamed on the sustained increases in global wholesale gas prices, will mean an extra £330 a year, or roughly £6.25 a week, on the average household bill for around 47,000 customers.

And it comes just days after Firmus hiked bills in its Ten Towns network area, which stretches from Derry to Newry, by 16.31 per cent from the same date, broadly aligning the two tariffs.

In Belfast, the increase follows on from rises of 33 per cent last October and another of nearly 20 per cent in January, effectively meaning bills have almost doubled in seven months.

Just last week the Resolution Foundation think tank says it expects the number of homes facing "fuel stress" across the UK to treble to 6.3 million this year as it warned of a "cost of living catastrophe".

Niall Martindale, interim managing director of Firmus Energy, said: “Energy markets remain at high levels, having been adversely affected by the war in Ukraine, which has been reflected across the board with increases in the costs of home heating oil, coal, electricity and gas.

“Regrettably the sheer scale of the increased costs involved give us no alternative but to pass on to our customers the higher costs we are having to pay for the gas we supply.”

He added: “We are committed to reducing its tariff for all customers as soon as the market crisis subsides and enables us to do so.”

Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council, said: “While this price rise was expected due to sustained increases in global wholesale gas costs, and having seen Firmus Energy Ten Towns and SSE Airtricity price rises, it makes it no less challenging for households to absorb.

“It follows well-publicised rises in home heating oil, coal, electricity, grocery, and transport fuel costs, and is particularly bad news for consumers in vulnerable situations and low income households. It also means a wider group of households than before are having their budgets stretched ever further.”

He added: “Unlike the consumers in the Ten Towns network, gas consumers in Greater Belfast have the opportunity to switch supplier, and the Consumer Council encourage customers to check they have the best deal before May 2, when the opt-out period ends. It is also worth checking if you are on the cheapest electricity tariff.”