Power NI has said it has no plans to increase electricity prices for domestic customers in Northern Ireland this winter.
It is set to decease its tariff by 14.2% from January 1 following a review process with the Utility Regulator following a recent fall in wholesale market costs.
However, the Consumer Council said with the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee support scheme (EPG) to offer lower level of discount from January 1 2023, consumers will not see a difference in their bills.
William Steele, director, Power NI Customer Solutions, welcomed the continued support that the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) scheme is providing.
Electric Ireland has announced it will increase its tariff in Northern Ireland by 23.9% from January 1 2023. Awaiting clarity on whether this factors in the EPG discount.
— Ryan McAleer (@RyanMcAleerbiz) December 8, 2022
“The support scheme has been updated with a Northern Ireland specific discount for the period between January 1 2023 and March 31 2023, which will ensure that our customers will see no changes in their billed tariff this winter,” he said.
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“We value all our customers and remain committed to helping those who continue to be impacted by the cumulative rise in the cost of living. I would ask, for any customers who are worried about paying a bill, please get in contact and we will help you.”
Kevin Shiels, acting chief executive at the Utility Regulator, said scrutiny of Power NI’s tariffs “identified a need to decrease their tariffs because of falling wholesale electricity costs”.
“However, a recent change by the UK Government to its energy price guarantee scheme means that a lower level of discount will be applied to all electricity bills in Northern Ireland from January 1 2023,” he said.
“The lower level of discount cancels out the decrease identified by our tariff review.
NEW: Mixed news for customers of the north's largest electricity supplier Power NI. It has announced a 14.2% decrease in its tariff from Jan 1 2023. BUT, the drop in the UK Govt's subsidy support (via the EPG) from January 1 means households won't see a difference in their bills.
— Ryan McAleer (@RyanMcAleerbiz) December 8, 2022
“However, as the electricity bill for Power NI’s domestic customers will not change, it does mean that these customers won’t pay more for their electricity this winter, despite the reduction in the energy price guarantee discount.
“From January 1 2023, when the new tariff takes effect, Power NI’s average domestic credit customer (with the energy price guarantee discount applied) will pay £847 a year, compared to the GB Electricity Price Cap of £1,395 per year.
“This means that the typical Power NI customer’s bill will be 39% lower than the equivalent in Great Britain.”
Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, said consumers will not see a difference in their bills.
“We know that even with the Power NI tariff reduction and the EPG being rolled out, that so many consumers in Northern Ireland are still really worried about their bills,” he said.
“We urge anyone who is struggling to pay their energy bills or top up their meters to contact their supplier directly for help and support.”
Consumers can get in touch with the Consumer Council for free independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.
Without the EPG, Power NI's tariff would currently be 47.37p per unit (following the 60.5% hike from Nov 1 where it increased from 29.52p/kWh). From Jan 1 it will be down to 40.75/kWh. But the EPG discount will mean you pay around 27p per unit (roughly what you pay now).
— Ryan McAleer (@RyanMcAleerbiz) December 8, 2022
