Firmus: Gas bills set for price hike in Northern Ireland from May in Ten Towns area
Firmus Energy's putting up prices
Last updated 31st Mar 2022
Firmus Energy has announced gas bills for domestic and small business consumers in the Ten Towns licence area will increase by 16.31% from May 3rd.
This will mean that the average annual household gas bill will rise from ÂŁ1,293 to ÂŁ1,504 per year.
The Ten Towns area refers to firmus energy’s distribution network and includes: Derry/Londonderry, Limavady, Coleraine (including Portstewart and Bushmills), Ballymoney, Ballymena (Broughshane), Antrim (including Ballyclare and Templepatrick), Craigavon (including Portadown and Lurgan), Banbridge, Newry (Warrenpoint), Armagh (Tandragee) and more than 25 other towns and villages in the surrounding area.
The firmus energy standard tariff will be 43.5% above the GB default gas tariff cap level. Both have VAT rates of 5%.
Commenting on the announcement, John French, Utility Regulator Chief Executive said:
"Wholesale energy prices rose rapidly in the second half of 2021, as global supplies did not keep pace with demand and as economies began to recover from Covid-19. Unfortunately, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made this picture even starker. Although we are not directly reliant on Russian gas, it sets the price we pay.
"Following the Russian invasion on 24 February, Firmus Energy, in early March, provided the Utility Regulator with a submission to increase their regulated tariff. We have now finalised our analysis of this submission, following consultation with both the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. We have concluded that a 16.31% increase is now needed to reflect the harsh underlying market conditions," he added.
"I completely recognise that this energy crisis is putting the most vulnerable in our society under considerable strain. I would therefore encourage anyone who is struggling with their bills to get in touch with their energy company as soon as they can. The regulatory process ensures that energy companies have clear obligations on how they act and how they provide support to consumers.
“We will continue to work with Government, industry and support agencies to do whatever we can to support consumers through this crisis, in one of the most challenging markets we have seen in our history.”
Further information on the support available to energy customers is available at www.nidirect.gov.uk/covid-19-energy-debt-advice.
Advice on saving energy in the home and information on energy efficiency grants is available from https://www.nihe.gov.uk/Community/NI-Energy-Advice.