Utility Regulator publishes fourth Non-domestic Consumer Insight Tracker Survey
The Utility Regulator has published its 2026 Non‑domestic Consumer Insight Tracker Survey, providing an insight into the experiences of businesses across Northern Ireland’s electricity and gas markets.
The survey, conducted by Perceptive Insight on behalf of the Utility Regulator, gathered responses from 500 non‑domestic electricity and gas consumers between November and December 2025.
The survey measures consumer engagement, experiences and attitudes in Northern Ireland’s non‑domestic energy retail market. It also identifies the issues affecting this consumer group and monitors how these have changed over time, since the baseline survey began in 2020.
The 2026 survey highlights that fewer non‑domestic consumers are reporting concerns about, and difficulty with, paying their energy bills. However, energy costs remain high compared to pre‑pandemic levels, which may partly explain why a significant proportion of non‑domestic consumers continue to express concern around their bills.
Key findings
The 2026 survey highlights signs of improvement for non-domestic consumers, alongside ongoing pressures:
Fewer concerns about energy bills:
The proportion of respondents concerned about their energy bills fell from 30 per cent in 2025 to 22 per cent in 2026.Reduced financial strain:
More respondents reported never struggling to pay their energy bills in comparison to 2025 levels, with 90 per cent of electricity consumers and 96 per cent of gas consumers indicating this.80 per cent of respondents are aware that they can choose between suppliers (up from 74 per cent in 2025).
79 per cent are aware that they can choose between tariff types (up from 71 per cent in 2025).
Greater awareness of choice:
Awareness of market options continues to improve:
Colin Magee, Non-domestic Consumer Protection Manager at the Utility Regulator says, "The findings of this year's tracker survey are encouraging and suggest that many non-domestic consumers have experienced improved outcomes, expressing increased satisfaction and trust in their suppliers, and lower levels of concern about energy bills.
"At the same time, we recognise that around one in five businesses remain concerned about their energy costs. It is also important to note that this research was undertaken before the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East earlier this year and the associated volatility in wholesale energy markets.
“While the survey provides a snapshot of consumer sentiment at that time, it is important to remember that business experiences and concerns may have evolved since the research was carried out.
"Later this summer, we will also publish qualitative research exploring the experiences of small businesses facing energy-related hardship. Together with the findings published today, the research will help inform our non-domestic consumer protection work programme and priorities over the next few years.
“This will include a consultation later this year on a new Code of Practice to implement additional protections for non-domestic consumers."
Full results from the 2026 Non‑domestic Consumer Insight Tracker Survey are available on the Utility Regulator’s website: www.uregni.gov.uk