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| Electricity bills to rise by 14% | Electricity bills to rise by 14% |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Electricity prices in Northern Ireland are to rise by 14% from the start of July, Northern Ireland Electricity has announced. | Electricity prices in Northern Ireland are to rise by 14% from the start of July, Northern Ireland Electricity has announced. |
| Further "significant" price increases are likely this autumn, NIE added. | |
| The increase has been blamed on rising wholesale fuel prices. The company said coal, gas and oil prices had risen by 85% since its last price review. | The increase has been blamed on rising wholesale fuel prices. The company said coal, gas and oil prices had risen by 85% since its last price review. |
| The Consumer Council has called for an emergency financial package to help fuel poor households this winter. | |
| NIE Energy supplies 738,000 domestic and 48,000 business customers. | NIE Energy supplies 738,000 domestic and 48,000 business customers. |
| "We had hoped to hold our prices until later in the year, but wholesale gas, oil and coal prices have increased substantially in recent months," an NIE spokeswoman said. | "We had hoped to hold our prices until later in the year, but wholesale gas, oil and coal prices have increased substantially in recent months," an NIE spokeswoman said. |
| "This increase is in line with recent GB energy supply companies' pricing announcements, and both the utility regulator and the Consumer Council have been closely consulted. | |
| "Over 453,000 of our customers get a discount on their electricity supply, and I would encourage more of our customers to take advantage of one of our discount schemes." | "Over 453,000 of our customers get a discount on their electricity supply, and I would encourage more of our customers to take advantage of one of our discount schemes." |
| Eleanor Gill, of the Consumer Council, said: "The sheer scale of these energy price increases should trigger an emergency financial package to help alleviate hardship in fuel poor households this winter. | |
| "All possible ways of paying for this emergency fund must be urgently explored." | |
| She added: "Consumers should make sure that they are receiving all payments they are entitled to, budget carefully and save money where they can and be as energy efficient as is healthily possible." |