Electric Ireland announces 29% price hike for NI customers

Electric Ireland has today, (1st September 2022), announced plans to increase its residential electricity bills in Northern Ireland by 29 per cent with effect from 1st October 2022.  

The company says the increase is due to ‘ongoing uncertainty in the international energy markets and sustained and unprecedented increases in wholesale energy prices’.

This equates to an increase of approximately £5.29 per week on the average residential electricity bill.  

The announcement comes after SSE Airtricity announced a 35.4% price increase for for its electricity customers, also effective from October.

Bill Coyle, Head of Residential Northern Ireland, Electric Ireland commented:

“This continues to be a very challenging time for all energy consumers, and an unprecedented time in the energy industry. 

He continues: “It is with considerable reluctance that we are increasing electricity prices for our customers, which is necessary given the continuing increase in wholesale energy.” 

“We realise these price increases may be difficult for some customers to absorb. We would like to encourage any of our customers who are having difficulty in paying their bill to contact our customer care team.   Our team also work closely with a number of organisations including Age NI, Advice NI and NEA who can provide support for our customers during these difficult times”. 

Electric Ireland has circa 104,000 customers in Northern Ireland.