Power NI raises electricity tariff 4% after regulator review; SSE Airtricity to cut some gas prices
Power NI says higher pass-through and network costs make a second rise in under a year unavoidable, while SSE Airtricity will cut gas tariffs in parts of Northern Ireland from Oct. 1.
Power NI has increased its electricity tariff by 4% following a review by the Utility Regulator, a move the company described as unavoidable and the second tariff rise in less than a year.
A customer on a credit meter will see an annual bill increase of about £40, while a customer on a keypad pay-as-you-go meter will face a rise of roughly £39. William Steele of Power NI said the company works to keep prices as low as possible and that, although wholesale energy prices have stabilised, they remain higher than in previous years.
Steele said rising regulated pass-through market and network-related costs that are beyond the company's control have made a tariff adjustment unavoidable. The Utility Regulator’s periodic reviews of regulated tariffs prompted the change, the company said.
Separately, SSE Airtricity announced an 8.47% reduction in gas prices for customers in Greater Belfast and the West, with the lower tariff taking effect from Oct. 1. The Utility Regulator concluded its reviews of the regulated tariffs for Power NI and SSE Airtricity Gas Supply, leading to the differing adjustments for electricity and gas customers.
The changes underscore a mixed picture for consumers in Northern Ireland’s energy market. While wholesale energy price volatility has eased from the record highs seen in recent years, regulated charges and network costs continue to exert upward pressure on electricity bills. Power NI’s rise follows a previous increase announced within the last year, reflecting how regulated cost components can prompt further adjustments even as commodity markets stabilise.
SSE Airtricity’s gas reduction will provide relief to customers in the specified areas from next month, but the net impact on household budgets will vary depending on individual usage and meter type. Both companies framed the moves as responses to the regulatory settlement and cost pressures identified in the Utility Regulator’s reviews.
The Utility Regulator’s decisions on regulated tariffs directly affect prices consumers pay under standard, regulated contracts. Energy firms have limited scope to alter those tariffs outside the regulator’s review process, meaning changes approved by the regulator flow through to bills once companies implement the new levels.