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The Consumer Council is urging Ulster Bank customers to review their banking needs following the announcement of the closure of nine branches later this year.

The Consumer Council is urging Danske Bank customers to review their banking needs as it has announced today (Friday 13 May 2022) that four local branches are due to close later this year.

We have updated our Privacy Policy. The new Privacy Policy was published on our website 12 May 2022.

SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s second largest electricity supplier, and Budget Energy, Northern Ireland’s fourth largest electricity supplier have announced price increases for their residential customers. These increases will effect three in ten households, around 248,000 domestic customers.

Budget Energy is set to increase prices by 27% from Friday 27 May 2022.

SSE Airtricity is set to increase prices by 33%, effective 1 June 2022.

The two companies announced electricity price increases in October 2021, meaning this increase is the second in 6 months.

SSE Airtricity’s Standard tariff for both credit meter and keypad (PAYG) meter customers will increase by £248 to just over £1,000 a year. Budget Energy’s typical customer with a credit meter will see their bill rise by around £280 per year, while customers with a keypad (PAYG) meter will see a yearly increase of about £275 per year.

Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council, said: “These price increases are the latest in a stream of bad news regarding the increasing cost of living in Northern Ireland. At the Consumer Council we listen to consumers daily and hear first-hand how upset, worried, and angry they are about price increases. While Consumers get that these price increases are happening due global reasons, it doesn’t make it any easier for people to pay their bills.

If you are struggling to pay your bills, the first thing to do is contact your supplier directly for help and information. There are measures that can be put in place to help you. Unfortunately, prices are set to stay high for the foreseeable future so the Consumer Council will continue to push for significantly improved initiatives to help consumers who are experiencing payment difficulties.”

We also have a number of free resources including Switch On: A Guide for Home Energy Users to help consumers be more energy efficient at home, get the best from their electricity or gas supply and save money.

Consumers can also get in touch with the Consumer Council for free independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.

Please be aware that holiday timetables will operate on Easter Monday (18th April) and Easter Tuesday (19th April) for those considering a day out or a short trip.

Firmus energy has announced today, 5 April 2022, an increase of 37% effective from 3 May 2022 for gas customers in the Belfast area.

In the week following the five pence cut in fuel excise duty, the Consumer Council’s research shows the average price of unleaded petrol and diesel across Northern Ireland have dropped by 3.4p and 1.9p respectively.

Firmus energy has today announced an increase of 16.31% from 3 May 2022 for gas customers in the Ten Towns area, impacting around 59,000 domestic customers.

This increase will see the yearly gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter rise by about £211 per year to £1,504. Those customers with a prepayment gas meter (PAYG) will see costs increase by around £201 per year to £1,432.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council said: “It is important that consumers are made aware that their domestic gas bills will stay high for at least the next year because the wholesale price that the companies pay for the gas continues to be much more expensive than the norm. Unfortunately heating oil prices are also very high, so regardless of the fuel we use, many of us will experience extreme pressure on our household budgets. This will further increase the numbers of people in fuel poverty, as many families may struggle to find the extra money they will now need to pay for heating.”

“As the Winter 2021/22 Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme ends today (31 March 2022), we implore firmus energy, and the wider energy industry, to commit to financially supporting the continuation of a fuel hardship scheme in the coming financial year. For the longer term, it is clear that energy companies, policy makers, The Utility Regulator, charities and the Consumer Council must continue to work together to develop sustainable solutions to help support those in need as the problem of high energy prices will likely be with us for the foreseeable future.”

If you are struggling to pay your bills energy bills or struggling to pay to top-up their meter should contact their supplier directly for support. Consumers can also get in touch with the Consumer Council for free, independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.

Our website has a number of free resources including Switch On: A Guide for Home Energy Users, which can help you be more energy efficient at home, get the best from your electricity or gas supply, and save money.

Firmus energy customers in Greater Belfast and in the gas to the West network area will not be impacted by this tariff change.

Electric Ireland have announced it will be increasing electricity prices by 30% for customers from 1 May 2022.

The typical credit meter and keypad (PAYG) customers will see their bills rise by around £219 per year.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, said: “This news will adversely impact all Electric Ireland customers who are already experiencing financial pressures on their household budget especially with the cost of living crisis that we are experiencing.

“Consumers who are struggling with their energy bills should contact their supplier directly for help and information. We would encourage all consumers to think about ways they can reduce their energy costs. Switching payment option, changing billing method or switching supplier can save some money.”

Our free independent energy price comparison tool can help you compare all electricity and gas tariffs across Northern Ireland in one place. Electric Ireland have confirmed that as part of their licensing agreement, there will be no exit fee applied to customers who switch to another supplier before 30 April 2022.

Raymond continued: “The Consumer Council will continue to work with all involved in the energy industry including supply companies and the Utility Regulator to develop sustainable solutions to support the ever growing number of people in need as the problem of high energy prices will likely be with us for the foreseeable future.”

Consumers can also get in touch with us for free independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.

The ScamwiseNI Partnership has launched a programme for people in Northern Ireland with learning difficulties to stay safe from scams.