Northern Ireland: Gas price rise of 35% announced

A gas price tariff price rise in towns across Northern Ireland has been announced by Firmus Energy. The 35% rise will begin at the start of October.

The rise will take place across the ‘Ten Towns Network’ area which includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Limavady, Londonderry and Newry.

A number of towns in the surrounding area are also believed to be included, though customers in the Greater Belfast area will have to wait to find out whether their prices will rise but a decision is expected within weeks.

These price rises are understood to affect over 50,000 customers and will lead to a typical gas meter bill rising by approximately £180 a year.

In a statement Firmus Energy’s managing director Michael Scott said the company were sorry to make the announcement as “the last thing we want is to have to increase our prices.”

Blaming the price increase on an increase in the cost of purchasing natural gas on the global markets, Mr Scott added “these costs ae totally beyond our control.