Gas price hike for Belfast and '˜ten towns' market

A spokesperson for the Consumer Council said: “In total, around 80,000 customers across Northern Ireland will be affected by this change. It will mean the annual gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter in Greater Belfast, and the Ten Towns, will rise by £57 and £66 respectively.”

Speaking about the price increase, Richard Williams, Head of Energy at the Consumer Council said: “Our research shows that energy is the consistently the number one concern for consumers in Northern Ireland. Whilst we are naturally disappointed for consumers that prices are increasing, the Firmus tariff in the “Ten Towns” market is regulated, so we understand the overall rationale for this change.”

“However, in the Greater Belfast market, the Firmus tariff can be compared to SSE Airtricity, who last week announced an increase of 7.6%. Therefore, the Consumer Council would encourage all natural gas customers in Greater Belfast to check to see that they are getting the best overall deal. The Consumer Council website provides an energy price comparison tool, which helps consumers compare tariffs and a step by step guide to switching their supplier so that consumers can get the best possible deal when paying for their natural gas.”