Newsroom

This year, many of us will be sending Christmas gifts to friends and family through the post rather than giving in person, so it's good to know what steps you can take to make sure your gifts arrive safely and on time. To help, we've put together some top tips covering last postage dates, how to get the best postage deal and keeping valuable items safe.

We’re delighted to be working with National Energy Action, to host a series of energy efficiency webinars where you can learn useful tips and advice on how you can make your energy go further this winter, save some money on your bills, and do your bit for our environment at the same time.

As consumers hit the high streets and shop online for Christmas, we are calling on the public to be ‘Savvy Shoppers’ in the run up to the big day, to avoid overspending and the common pitfalls of hidden costs.

Shopping from the comfort of your sofa on a phone or tablet is a task many of us now do on a regular basis, with more than 25% of the population doing the bulk of their Christmas shopping online. But 40% of shoppers in Northern Ireland have been targeted by scams in the last few years, and, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, we want to remind shoppers to be scam aware as they hunt for bargains.

Northern Ireland’s largest energy supplier, Power NI is set to increase its electricity tariff by 21.4% from 1 January 2022.This increase will see the yearly electricity bill of a typical household with a credit meter rise by around £131 per year. Those customers with a keypad (PAYG) meter costs will increase by around £127 per year.

Firmus energy has today announced an increase of 38.18% from 3 December 2021 for gas customers in the Ten Towns area, impacting around 55,000 domestic customers.

SSE Airtricity has today announced it will be increasing electricity prices by 9% from 1 December 2021. This means the typical customer will see their bill rise by around £62 per year.

John French, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator has today 20 October 2021 warned consumers that gas and electricity bills may continue to increase until summer 2022.

Reacting to this announcement Peter McClenaghan, Consumer Council Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability, said:

The Consumer Council has signed a joint letter with Citizens Advice England and Wales, Citizens Advice Scotland, Age UK, and Action with Communities in Rural England urging the Chancellor to continue to support rural post offices at the UK Government’s imminent Spending Review.

Click Energy have announced it will be increasing electricity prices by 18% for domestic customers on a 24hr tariffs from 1 November 2021 and comes after a 16% rise last month. This will see the typical bill paying and keypad (PAYG) meter customers needing to find around an extra £131 per year.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, said: “This news will adversely impact all Click Energy customers already experiencing financial pressures on their household budget, especially considering it is the third increase by the supplier in two months.