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01/03/2006
Soaring costs trigger electricity price rise
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has announced domestic tariffs will rise by 10.8% from April 1, on the back of soaring international fuel prices.
Following consultation with the energy regulator and the Consumer Council, NIE said that the increase brings electricity prices to the western European average of 11.6p per unit.
NIE spokesperson Robin Greer said the company appreciates this will be unwelcome news for customers. He said: “After several years of relatively stable electricity prices in Northern Ireland, it is desperately disappointing that this tariffs increase has been necessary.”
The price increase is necessary to meet the rising cost of the gas and oil burnt in Northern Ireland’s power stations.
Mr Greer added: “NIE has withheld some of the rising costs of fuel over the last couple of years, but it is just not possible to do that indefinitely in the face of such unprecedented cost increases.”
NIE said it had made a "tangible contribution to reducing the extent of the price rise". This has included a further reduction in NIE’s network charges, which have fallen by over 40% in the last decade and customers have benefited from NIE’s export of surplus electricity to the Republic of Ireland.
Currently less than 50% of NIE’s customers pay the full tariff rate for their electricity and the company is encouraging customers who have not already changed to a discounted payment scheme to do so.
Customers can obtain discounts of between 2.5% to 4% by paying by direct debit or switching to a ‘pay-as-you-go’ Keypad meter.
On the back of rising cost of gas and electricity, there have been calls for the Government to increase winter fuel payments.
Ulster Unionist energy spokesperson, Roy Beggs Jnr, said: “The double-digit price increases announced today will represent a real blow to weary consumers.
"As these price rises will be of particular concern for those affected by fuel poverty, there is a clear need for government to increase winter fuel allowances."
(SP/GB)
Following consultation with the energy regulator and the Consumer Council, NIE said that the increase brings electricity prices to the western European average of 11.6p per unit.
NIE spokesperson Robin Greer said the company appreciates this will be unwelcome news for customers. He said: “After several years of relatively stable electricity prices in Northern Ireland, it is desperately disappointing that this tariffs increase has been necessary.”
The price increase is necessary to meet the rising cost of the gas and oil burnt in Northern Ireland’s power stations.
Mr Greer added: “NIE has withheld some of the rising costs of fuel over the last couple of years, but it is just not possible to do that indefinitely in the face of such unprecedented cost increases.”
NIE said it had made a "tangible contribution to reducing the extent of the price rise". This has included a further reduction in NIE’s network charges, which have fallen by over 40% in the last decade and customers have benefited from NIE’s export of surplus electricity to the Republic of Ireland.
Currently less than 50% of NIE’s customers pay the full tariff rate for their electricity and the company is encouraging customers who have not already changed to a discounted payment scheme to do so.
Customers can obtain discounts of between 2.5% to 4% by paying by direct debit or switching to a ‘pay-as-you-go’ Keypad meter.
On the back of rising cost of gas and electricity, there have been calls for the Government to increase winter fuel payments.
Ulster Unionist energy spokesperson, Roy Beggs Jnr, said: “The double-digit price increases announced today will represent a real blow to weary consumers.
"As these price rises will be of particular concern for those affected by fuel poverty, there is a clear need for government to increase winter fuel allowances."
(SP/GB)
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