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Coal Price Increase Will Squeeze Household Purse

Friday 24 August 2007

The Consumer Council says the rise of up to five per cent in coal prices announced today is a blow to coal users here. On average, consumers will now pay an extra 40p for a bag of housecoal and 35p for a bag of smokeless coal [1].

While the Consumer Council believes that this increase will mean increased hardship for some, it welcomed the assurance that prices will stay the same for the next 12 months.

Joanne Gamble, Head of Energy at the Consumer Council said: “We recognise that worldwide demand and increasing freight costs are pushing up the cost of coal and that this increase could have been much higher.  But many families on low incomes who depend on coal to heat their homes will find even this small increase a squeeze on their household purse.  Although the number of people using coal to heat their homes is dropping, it is still an important fuel for Northern Ireland. 

The Consumer Council is advising consumers to get more for every pound they spend on fuel by being as energy efficient as possible.  Free advice is available from your local energy efficiency advice centre on 0800 512 012.

ENDS

  1. Consumer Council media contact: Susie Brown, telephone, 028 9067 4807 or e-mail, sbrown@consumercouncil.org.uk
  2. The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about electricity, natural gas, coal and passenger transport.
  3. For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk

[1]Housecoal will go up from £11.80 to £12.20 on average for a 50KG open top bag and smokeless coal will go up from £11.75 to  £12.10 for a 50KG open top bag. (figures from Coal Advisory Service)

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