Power NI and firmus hikes to push Northern Ireland energy bills sharply higher from July

More than half a million households across Northern Ireland are facing another jump in energy costs from Friday, with both electricity and gas prices rising amid renewed pressure on global wholesale markets linked to conflict in the Middle East.

Power NI customers will see electricity tariffs increase by 6.2% from 1 July 2026, while regulated firmus energy gas customers in the Ten Towns network will face a much steeper rise of 15.65%.

For many families already juggling food costs, mortgages, rent and insurance increases, the latest tariff changes will mean hundreds of pounds more added to annual household bills over the next year.

A typical Power NI customer paying by credit meter will see annual electricity costs rise by around £64 — increasing from approximately £1,029 to £1,093 per year.

Customers using keypad prepayment meters will see annual electricity costs rise by around £62, moving from roughly £1,003 to £1,065 annually.

At the same time, a typical firmus energy gas customer in the Ten Towns network will see annual costs jump by around £132 for credit meters — rising from approximately £840 to £972 per year.

Prepayment gas customers are expected to see yearly costs increase by around £129, rising from roughly £822 to £951 annually.

The changes come into effect on Tuesday, 1 July 2026.

Over 500,000 electricity customers affected

Power NI remains Northern Ireland’s largest electricity supplier, with more than 515,000 domestic customers according to data supplied by the company in May.

The Utility Regulator said the latest electricity increase follows a review launched in early May involving Power NI, firmus energy, the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council.

The regulator said rising wholesale energy costs, alongside higher market and network charges, were behind the increases.

Karen Smyth, Director of Infrastructure & Sustainability at the Consumer Council, said the increases would place additional pressure on households across Northern Ireland.

She said:

“From July, over 500,000 homes in Northern Ireland will see their annual electricity cost increase to around £1,093 for a typical credit customer and increase to around £1,065 a year for a typical keypad customer.

“While this is unwelcome news for consumers, we are aware the main drivers for this are increases in global energy prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, alongside higher network and market charges.”

The Consumer Council said electricity market operation and network-related charges continue to make up a significant portion of household electricity bills in Northern Ireland.

Gas prices reverse months of reductions

The firmus energy increase marks a sharp reversal after a prolonged period of falling regulated gas prices in the Ten Towns network.

Previous regulated decreases included:

• 10.1% reduction in April 2026

• 7.86% reduction in October 2025

• 11.84% reduction in April 2025

• 15.6% reduction in April 2024

The new increase will affect almost 76,000 customers in the Ten Towns gas network area, including homes and small businesses in Ballymena, Antrim, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady, Derry/Londonderry, Newry, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, alongside more than 25 surrounding towns and villages.

There has been no announcement regarding tariffs for SSE Airtricity customers in the Greater Belfast gas network area, although the Utility Regulator confirmed that another tariff review process will begin in August ahead of a possible October change.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, warned further increases later this year could not be ruled out.

He said:

“This is very unwelcome news but given that global wholesale gas prices have increased significantly as a direct consequence of the ongoing Middle East conflict, a rise on gas tariffs was inevitable.

“Another regulated gas tariff review is scheduled for October and if the conflict is not resolved very soon, we could see further gas price increases in the Autumn.”

Middle East conflict blamed for wholesale energy surge

The Utility Regulator said tensions in the Middle East had caused sustained increases in wholesale gas prices globally, with knock-on effects already being felt across petrol, diesel and heating oil markets.

Leigh Greer, Head of Security of Supply and Markets Regulation at the Utility Regulator, said wholesale gas prices had more than doubled during periods of escalating conflict.

He said:

“Before the conflict began, the price per therm for natural gas was around 80p. As tensions in the Middle East escalated, the price per therm peaked at just over £1.70.

“In recent weeks the average price has been around £1.10 - £1.20 per therm.”

The Utility Regulator said its role was to ensure that consumers only paid costs directly linked to underlying wholesale energy prices and the actual cost of supplying homes.

Despite the increases, the regulator stated that regulated electricity and gas tariffs in Northern Ireland would remain lower than price caps in Great Britain and tariffs in the Republic of Ireland from July 2026.

How Northern Ireland compares with Great Britain and Ireland

Despite the latest increases, the Utility Regulator says households in Northern Ireland will still pay less on regulated electricity and gas tariffs than consumers in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Figures based on annual consumption of 3,200kWh of electricity and 12,000kWh of gas show that a household in the firmus energy Ten Towns network area will face a combined annual electricity and gas bill of around £2,066 from 1 July 2026.

For households in the Greater Belfast and West gas network areas supplied by SSE Airtricity gas and Power NI electricity, the equivalent combined annual bill is estimated at around £1,998.

That compares with an average combined annual cost of approximately £2,182 in Great Britain and £2,780 in the Republic of Ireland.

Breaking the figures down further, a typical electricity bill in Northern Ireland is expected to be around £1,093 annually, compared with £1,122 in Great Britain and £1,385 in Ireland.

Gas customers in the firmus Ten Towns network are projected to pay around £973 per year following the July increase, while customers in the Greater Belfast and West network areas are estimated at around £905. By comparison, average annual gas costs are estimated at £1,060 in Great Britain and £1,395 in Ireland.

The Utility Regulator said the comparison demonstrates that, even after the July increases, regulated energy tariffs in Northern Ireland remain among the lowest across these neighbouring markets.

However, for households facing another rise in monthly outgoings, the lower relative cost may offer little comfort as many families continue to deal with the cumulative impact of years of energy price volatility since the 2022 energy crisis.

Consumers urged to compare tariffs and payment methods

With prices rising again, consumers are being urged to review how they pay for energy and compare available tariffs.

The Consumer Council said customers paying by standard bill payment methods are often paying more than those using alternative payment arrangements.

Karen Smyth said switching supplier, changing billing methods or moving payment type could help households reduce costs.

She said:

“Being on a standard tariff and paying on receipt of a bill is the most expensive way to pay for your electricity.

“Switching payment option, changing billing method or even switching supplier may save you money.”

The Consumer Council’s online energy price comparison tool is available at:

Comparison Tool

Consumers who do not have internet access, or who need help checking tariffs, can contact the Consumer Council directly on 0800 121 6022 or by email at contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.

The organisation is also encouraging anyone struggling to top up meters or pay bills to contact their supplier immediately to discuss support options before debts escalate further.

Advice and support on saving energy and managing household costs is available through the Consumer Council website at:

Advice & Support

Historical trend shows sharp post-pandemic volatility

Historical tariff data released alongside Friday’s announcement highlights the dramatic swings experienced by Northern Ireland energy customers since 2021.

Power NI electricity prices climbed sharply during the energy crisis, peaking at an average annual bill of £1,516 in November 2022 before falling back during 2023 and 2024.

The latest increase will push the average annual regulated electricity bill back above £1,090 — the highest level since April 2023.

Meanwhile, regulated firmus energy gas tariffs in the Ten Towns network previously peaked at an annual average of £2,351 in October 2022 before a series of reductions brought prices back down.

Friday’s increase marks the first upward movement in regulated firmus tariffs since the latest run of decreases began.

For households across Ballymena and Northern Ireland already watching every pound, the concern now is whether July’s increases are the start of another sustained climb heading into autumn and winter.