AROUND 26,000 customers in Northern Ireland using Click Energy are facing an 11 per cent price rise from next month.
The company, which is the smallest of the five electricity suppliers in the north, last night said the increased rate will come into effect on July 1.
A typical bill for a household with a credit meter will cost an extra £98 a year and those customers with a prepayment meter (PAYG) will see their typical costs increase by around £99 per year.
Click Energy is the latest company to increase prices with the cost of gas, electricity and oil all rising in recent months.
Just last week SSE Airtricity announced a gas price increase of 42.7 per cent impacting around 187,000 homes. It was their fourth increase in gas prices in just 15 months and came on top of a 33 per cent rise in the company's electricity prices.
Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the NI Consumer Council, urged people to seek help if they are struggling to pay energy bills.
"The increase is due to the continuing rise of wholesale energy costs and comes at a time when many are already experiencing extreme pressures on their household budgets with rises in home heating oil, natural gas, coal, grocery, and transport fuel costs," he said.
"We urge anyone who is struggling to pay their energy bills or to top-up their meter, to contact their supplier directly for help with payment plans for bill pay/direct debit and prepayment meters.
"We also encourage consumers to think about ways they can reduce their energy costs through energy efficiency and, importantly, if possible, trying to save over the summer months to cover energy costs during winter 2022/23."
The Consumer Council urged Click Energy customers to shop around to make sure they are on the best electricity deal as no exit fee will apply if switching before July 1.
In Northern Ireland there are five electricity suppliers which have more than 20 different tariffs.
