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The Consumer Council welcomes the progress announced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the delivery of the Energy Bill Support Scheme and Energy Price Guarantee. However, we are calling for an urgent update on how appropriate support from the UK Government will be afforded to all households regardless of how they heat their home as heating oil is used by more than two thirds of domestic households in Northern Ireland.

Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council, said:  “The commitment from the Prime Minister that support will be provided to Northern Ireland consumers whether they use heating oil or natural gas is welcome. The Consumer Council is keen to see more progress in the development of support for consumers who primarily use home heating oil to heat their homes. This should be support over and above the additional payment of £100 to all households across the UK who are not served by the gas grid.

We have met with BEIS and the Northern Ireland Office and outlined the challenges Northern Ireland heating oil users face given the Consumer Council’s weekly heating oil survey shows heating oil prices in Northern Ireland remain over £1 per litre, more than twice the ten-year average price. The Northern Ireland Oil Federation has also outlined those challenges to BEIS.

These high prices combined with the requirement to make bulk purchases, exposure to a volatile global oil market, often inefficient boilers and a lack of consumer protection measures, particularly support for vulnerable consumers, create huge challenges for heating oil users which include many rural consumers who have no access to the natural gas network.

This is particularly worrying for Northern Ireland’s lowest earning households, who according to our research undertaken in the first quarter of 2022, have a discretionary income of just £29 per week.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and offer our sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth was a devoted public servant and an extraordinary individual who lived a life of service and duty. She touched the lives of so many during her long and exceptional reign and her loss will be deeply felt by many in Northern Ireland, across the United Kingdom and the world.

Sheila McClelland (Chair) & Noyona Chundur (Chief Executive) of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

Click Energy, the smallest of the five electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, has announced it will be increasing electricity prices by 28.2% from 1 October 2022, impacting around 26,000 customers.

Firmus energy has announced today, 6 September 2022, an increase of 56.3% effective from 3rd October 2022 for gas customers in both the Ten Towns and Greater Belfast gas networks.

This is the third time firmus energy have increased their gas prices this year, and this will impact approximately 62,000 domestic and small business gas customers in the Ten Towns area. This means the annual gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will rise by about £847 per year, those customers with a prepayment gas meter (PAYG) will see their typical costs increase by around £806 per year.

The Greater Belfast tariff increase will impact approximately 47,000 gas customers. This will leave the annual gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will rise by about £855 per year, those customers with a prepayment gas meter (PAYG) will see their typical costs increase by around £843 per year.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council said:

“Of all the recent energy price increases this announcement is the most shocking. We are facing into a very serious crisis this winter and we are angry and fearful on behalf of Northern Ireland consumers. Until recent times, a household’s typical annual bill was lower than the amount of this increase. 

Once this price rise takes place on 3rd October, consumer bills will be around four times the norm, highlighting why the Consumer Council has been calling for much more support for consumers.

We know from speaking to consumers daily that many are choosing between heating and eating, and for some, neither is an option. It is really worrying to think how these consumers are going to cope over the winter months. Such high prices will make the coming winter miserable for many and life threatening for some.”

“These increases, mainly due to the sustained high price of wholesale gas, follow well-publicised rises in home heating oil, electricity and grocery costs. This is extremely worrying news for consumers in vulnerable situations and low-income households. It also means a wider group of households than ever are having their budgets stretched ever further.”

“We urge anyone who is struggling to pay their energy bills or top-up their meter to contact their supplier directly for help and support. We also encourage consumers to think about ways they can reduce their energy costs through energy efficiency and if possible, try to save money over the next few weeks to cover energy costs during the coming winter.

Raymond continued: “In the short term, the Consumer Council is working to protect consumers by encouraging Government to introduce further financial support ahead of the coming winter and clarity is needed as soon as possible about when the Chancellor’s £400 energy support package to all households will be made available to people here. We have appealed to the energy industry, to commit to continued financial support for a fuel hardship scheme for the winter ahead.

In the longer term, this situation shows the importance of the Department for the Economy’s Energy Strategy Action Plan, that aims to tackle affordability and move Northern Ireland away from its dependence on fossil fuels.”

We have lots of information here 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 us at the Consumer Council for free independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Consumer Council have launched a new initiative in time for the new academic year, aimed at helping students avoid scams and identity theft.

Northern Ireland’s lowest earning households have been left with only £29 per week, according to the Consumer Council’s new Household Expenditure Tracker.

Electric Ireland, the third largest electricity supplier in Northern Ireland, have announced today it will be increasing electricity prices by 29% for customers from 1 October 2022.

SSE Airtricity has announced today an increase of 28.4% for gas customers, effective from Saturday 1 October 2022. This will impact around 188,000 domestic gas customers throughout the Greater Belfast and West gas networks, and about 4,600 commercial customers.

This news means that the yearly gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will rise by about £351 per year. Those customers with a prepayment gas meter (PAYG) will see their typical costs increase by around £348 per year.

SSE Airtricity has also announced a 35.4% increase in its electricity prices, effective Saturday 1 October 2022. This will see electricity bills for an average household increase to around £1,356 per year.

Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council said: “We are facing into a very serious crisis this winter and I am angry and fearful on behalf of Northern Ireland consumers.

Already many of our households are at the brink. This announcement means consumers in Belfast face combined annual gas and electricity bills in excess of £2,500 a year, with further price increases to come.

This is a global problem, the price of the gas we import is outside the control of local companies, but consumers require a lot more local support than has been offered to date.

The £400 Energy Support Scheme promised to all households in NI by the Chancellor will be a help, but it will not be nearly enough as a typical gas consuming household will be paying out over £1,000 more for energy this winter than last.

“We encourage anyone who is struggling to pay their energy bills or to top-up their meter, to contact their supplier directly for help and information. We also encourage consumers to think about ways they can reduce their energy costs through energy efficiency and, if you can, put some extra money aside for energy costs this winter.”

Peter continued: “In the short term, the Consumer Council has been working in collaboration with Government departments, The Utility Regulator, energy suppliers, and third sector organisations, who have been working hard to try to put in place immediate support and advice to help those in energy crisis this winter and beyond.

In the longer term, this situation shows the importance of the Department for the Economy’s Energy Strategy Action Plan, that aims to tackle affordability and move us away from our dependence on fossil fuels.”

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

The Consumer Council is advising postal consumers to plan ahead for Royal Mail strike action which is expected to take place on Friday 26 August, Wednesday 31 August, Thursday 8 September and Friday 9 September 2022.

The Consumer Council has produced eight short videos advising consumers of their rights when travelling this summer.