Firmus Energy gas tariffs to rise by 12.2% over province

The firm’s actions mean that customers in the greater Belfast and ‘Ten Towns’ areas will be paying an £1.181 per seek for a typical household.

That equates to a rise of almost £61.50 a year; a sizeable hike over the £36 annual rise announced last week by SSE Airtricity which is to raise its tariffs in greater Belfast by just 7.6%.

Like SSE Airtricity, firmus blamed the increase on the rising wholesale price for natural gas in the global comodities markets.

The firm said it was the first time it had increased its prices in three years.

That was acknowledged by the Utilities Regulator who said the rise would still leave firmus customers paying less than the standard charge in the Irish Republic and on a par with those in GB.

“We understand the importance of price stability for customers and apologise for having to increase prices,” said firmus managing director Michael Scott.

“Over the past three years we have been able to reduce or maintain our prices. We appreciate that this is not good news for customers, however, this tariff change is driven by the rising wholesale natural gas commodity market.”

The tariff review process is carried out by firmus energy and the Utility Regulator, in consultation with the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

Around 30,000 customers in the area known as ‘Ten Towns’ will receive a letter detailing the increase.

These towns include Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon (including Lurgan and Portadown), Limavady, Londonderry, Newry and more than 20 other towns and villages in the surrounding areas.

The company has around 50,000 customers in greater Belfast which incorporates Lisburn, Bangor, Holywood, Donaghadee, Groomsport, Millisle, Newtownards, Carryduff, Comber, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Larne.

The tariff for the former must be approved by the Regulator but not in the latter where firmus is the rival to the larger - and regulated - SSE Airtricity.

That means the company can adjust the rate there without consultation.

has chosen Kevin Shiels, the Utility Regulator’s director of retail and consumer protection said: “We understand that price increases are not welcome and have thoroughly scrutinised firmus energy’s actual costs to supply gas to homes and businesses in the Ten Towns area.

The main reason for this tariff change is due to the increase in international wholesale energy costs.

“We regulate firmus energy’s tariff in the Ten Towns area, and whilst this 12.2% increase comes as we enter the spring, we recognise the impact it will have on customer budgets.

“This price increase comes after two consecutive price decreases.