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Economy 7 No Longer Economic For 45,000 Households

Thursday 4 October 2007

The Consumer Council said today that the 3.9 per cent increase in electricity prices is unwelcome but reasonable. However, it described the huge 14 per cent increase in Economy 7 night time prices as a body blow to the 45,000 households who will have to cough up an extra £50 a year. The Consumer Council has called for real action to help these households, a third of which may already be in fuel poverty and stuck with Economy 7.

Sinead Dynan, Acting Head of Energy at the Consumer Council said: “This increase is going to add an extra £14 a year on average to the total household bill at a time when people are facing a winter of rising costs.  However, consumers should be assured that electricity prices in Northern Ireland are in line with the rest of the UK and lower than the Republic of Ireland[1].  Of course this is cold comfort to the one in four households who are suffering fuel poverty and may have to choose between heating and eating this winter.  

“We are calling on the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, to assure people that there is a cohesive strategy in place to free people from the grip of fuel poverty this winter and every winter.  In particular there is an urgent need to deliver a plan to replace Economy 7, which is now well past its sell-by date and adding to the fuel poverty problem.”

It is more important than ever to make every pound go as far as possible and the Consumer Council is encouraging people to make savings where they can by being energy efficient.   Contact the Consumer Council for free information and advice on 0845 601 6022.

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, passenger transport and water.

For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk

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