CONCERNS were raised last night after two energy companies said electricity prices in Northern Ireland are to rise by up to a third.
Around three in 10 households in the north - or around 248,000 domestic customers - will be impacted by the price hike.
SSE Airtricity are to increase prices by 33 per cent from June 1, while Budget Energy prices will rise by 27 per cent from May 27.
It comes just six months after the two companies previously announced electricity price increases.
They have blamed sustained increases in wholesale costs affecting all energy suppliers and disrupting markets across the UK and Europe.
SSE Airtricity's standard tariff for both credit meter and keypad (PAYG) meter customers will increase by £248 to just over £1,000 a year.
Budget Energy's typical customer with a credit meter will see their bill rise by around £280 per year while customers with a keypad (PAYG) meter will see a yearly increase of about £275 per year.
It also comes after Electric Ireland announced a 30 per cent increase last month, with the higher tariffs set to take effect tomorrow.
Peter McClenaghan from the Consumer Council last night said it was the latest in a line of bad news regarding the increasing cost of living in Northern Ireland.
"While consumers get that these price increases are happening due to global reasons, it doesn't make it any easier for people to pay their bills, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances," he said.
