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25/01/2006
Shock at fuel price rises in NI
Northern Ireland Electricity has announced that its prices could increase by up to 20%.
The double figure price rise, due to be announced at the end of January and not expected to be more than 20%, is being blamed on rising gas prices.
In February 2004, NIE announced a rise in costs and blamed it on "a significant rise in power station fuel" - that increase was 2.8%, which meant a rise of £8.60 per year.
Ulster Unionist DETI Spokesperson Roy Beggs Jnr has expressed his shock at the severity of the increase in electricity prices.
He said: “Not only has the gas customer been hit with a 52% price rise since October, but that same customer now faces the prospect of up to a 20% hit on electricity.
“Last July the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation stated that, by the end of the decade, electricity consumers here will proportionally have forked out £1 billion more than the rest of the UK - overall, that equates to around £1,600 per household.
“On top of this, it appears that customers are being asked to absorb more rises. Questions have to be asked whether Northern Ireland energy companies - which are in a virtual monopoly position and among some of the most profitable in Northern Ireland - are delivering the best deal for the customer.
Mr Beggs added that it is clearly up to both the regulator and the government to do something to alleviate the pressures of fuel poverty put on the Northern Ireland industry, on domestic customers, and those most disadvantaged in society.
(EF/SP)
The double figure price rise, due to be announced at the end of January and not expected to be more than 20%, is being blamed on rising gas prices.
In February 2004, NIE announced a rise in costs and blamed it on "a significant rise in power station fuel" - that increase was 2.8%, which meant a rise of £8.60 per year.
Ulster Unionist DETI Spokesperson Roy Beggs Jnr has expressed his shock at the severity of the increase in electricity prices.
He said: “Not only has the gas customer been hit with a 52% price rise since October, but that same customer now faces the prospect of up to a 20% hit on electricity.
“Last July the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation stated that, by the end of the decade, electricity consumers here will proportionally have forked out £1 billion more than the rest of the UK - overall, that equates to around £1,600 per household.
“On top of this, it appears that customers are being asked to absorb more rises. Questions have to be asked whether Northern Ireland energy companies - which are in a virtual monopoly position and among some of the most profitable in Northern Ireland - are delivering the best deal for the customer.
Mr Beggs added that it is clearly up to both the regulator and the government to do something to alleviate the pressures of fuel poverty put on the Northern Ireland industry, on domestic customers, and those most disadvantaged in society.
(EF/SP)
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