Northern Ireland

Firmus customers in Greater Belfast face second price hike inside a matter of weeks

Firmus Energy's domestic gas tariff will rise by almost 20 per cent on January 6
Firmus Energy's domestic gas tariff will rise by almost 20 per cent on January 6 Firmus Energy's domestic gas tariff will rise by almost 20 per cent on January 6

FIRMUS Energy customers in the Belfast area are facing a second hike in gas prices inside a matter of weeks.

Firmus announced yesterday that its domestic tariffs are due to to rise on January 6 by almost 20 per cent.

It comes on the back of a price hike in October when the company imposed an increase of 33 per cent.

The latest rise in prices has been blamed on the cost of wholesale gas, which Firmus say has increased by more than 400 per cent in the past year.

It will mean the company's 50,000-odd customers in the greater Belfast area will pay an additional average of £145 a year.

Firmus chairman David Dobbin said the increase was regrettable put that rising wholesale costs "forced our hand".

"We know this is an unwelcome increase which will have a disproportionate effect on those of our customers who are most vulnerable," he said.

"Following ongoing discussions, we will be supporting the government and industry backed financial support scheme that is being developed to assist our most vulnerable customers this winter."

The company said the increase would mean prices in for customers greater Belfast and Ten Towns licence areas were now "broadly aligned".

The Consumer Council's Peter McClenaghan said gas prices were likely to stay high the foreseeable future.

He said customers have the opportunity to switch supplier and that the Consumer Council would encourage them to check they have the best deal before the opt-out period ends on January 5.