According to reports, Northern Ireland’s electricity cost later this year will increase at about 20%, as Power NI, formally called NIE Energy, confirmed that the increase of 18.6% will be effective on the 1st of October.

Also, this entails that the average household electricity bill will rise by over £90 each year, and the decision has been criticized by the Northern Ireland Consumer Council, as it refers to it as a ‘massive blow’ for households coming this winter.

Hence, the council has called on the NI Executive to negotiate lesser prices for Power NI customers, as Stephen McCully, the Managing Director of Power NI, said: “Our last price increase was three years ago and since then we’ve managed to either freeze or cut prices, so I’m very disappointed to have to make this announcement”.

However, the NI is reported to have been challenged with a gradual increase in wholesale gas and oil prices over the past two years, as they cannot maintain their prices any more, and they even sought a bigger increase.

Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive of the Council, stated: “The reality is that by switching, you encourage better competition, you incentivize the energy providers to do a better customer service and you can actually save money, up to 17% for some consumers at the moment”.