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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Huge jump for gas and power bills | Huge jump for gas and power bills |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gas and electricity prices in Northern Ireland are set to rise sharply from the beginning of next month. | Gas and electricity prices in Northern Ireland are set to rise sharply from the beginning of next month. |
| Electricity bills will rise by a third, adding almost £150 to the average bill. It follows a 14% increase in July. | Electricity bills will rise by a third, adding almost £150 to the average bill. It follows a 14% increase in July. |
| The 19.2% rise in Phoenix gas prices comes after a 28% increase just four months ago. | The 19.2% rise in Phoenix gas prices comes after a 28% increase just four months ago. |
| The increases have been blamed on the cost of wholesale fuel, and the utility regulator has warned householders face a "very serious situation this winter". | The increases have been blamed on the cost of wholesale fuel, and the utility regulator has warned householders face a "very serious situation this winter". |
| Stephen McCully from NIE Energy said the cost of generating electricity had gone up sharply in the past year, with gas prices rising by around 150%. | Stephen McCully from NIE Energy said the cost of generating electricity had gone up sharply in the past year, with gas prices rising by around 150%. |
| FUEL POVERTY | |
| "We don't make a penny more from this increase, this price increase is driven purely by the increase in our wholesale prices," he said. | "We don't make a penny more from this increase, this price increase is driven purely by the increase in our wholesale prices," he said. |
| 'Truly shocking' | 'Truly shocking' |
| Consumer Council spokeswoman Eleanor Gill said although they accepted bills must go up to cover rising costs of wholesale energy, "these price rises are truly shocking for consumers and people will struggle to cope". | Consumer Council spokeswoman Eleanor Gill said although they accepted bills must go up to cover rising costs of wholesale energy, "these price rises are truly shocking for consumers and people will struggle to cope". |
| "Having considered all the information provided to us, we accept that Phoenix's level of increase bears scrutiny and is broadly in line with the rest of the UK," she said. | "Having considered all the information provided to us, we accept that Phoenix's level of increase bears scrutiny and is broadly in line with the rest of the UK," she said. |
| "However, NIE Energy's scale of increase is not and it needs urgent and further explanation - in just 10 months their rate of increase has almost doubled compared to the rest of the UK, even though we are told that global energy prices are behind these rises. | "However, NIE Energy's scale of increase is not and it needs urgent and further explanation - in just 10 months their rate of increase has almost doubled compared to the rest of the UK, even though we are told that global energy prices are behind these rises. |
| In just 10 months NIE's rate of increase has almost doubled compared to the rest of the UK Eleanor GillConsumer Council | |
| "The Consumer Council cannot accept an increase of this scale until this fundamental question is fully answered. In the absence of competition, consumers need to be fully satisfied that the regulatory system works." | "The Consumer Council cannot accept an increase of this scale until this fundamental question is fully answered. In the absence of competition, consumers need to be fully satisfied that the regulatory system works." |
| She called on the executive to establish an emergency fund to help poorer households. | She called on the executive to establish an emergency fund to help poorer households. |
| Utility Regulator Iain Osborne said it would be up to politicians to set social policy and to decide whether some people paid more for fuel so that bills could be reduced for society's most vulnerable people. | Utility Regulator Iain Osborne said it would be up to politicians to set social policy and to decide whether some people paid more for fuel so that bills could be reduced for society's most vulnerable people. |
| The fuel price task-force has presented its recommendations to Department of Social Development minister Margaret Ritchie, he revealed. | The fuel price task-force has presented its recommendations to Department of Social Development minister Margaret Ritchie, he revealed. |
| "We don't approve proposals for price rises without extensive scrutiny," said Mr Osborne. | "We don't approve proposals for price rises without extensive scrutiny," said Mr Osborne. |
| "We regret having to approve major price rises and are conscious of the impact that this will have on household budgets in Northern Ireland. | "We regret having to approve major price rises and are conscious of the impact that this will have on household budgets in Northern Ireland. |
| "We have worked hard to try to minimise the burden of the increase on low income consumers in particular. | "We have worked hard to try to minimise the burden of the increase on low income consumers in particular. |
| "Specifically, we have directed NIE Energy to take specific steps to prevent price increases disproportionately impacting on Economy 7 users, who tend to be on low incomes. | "Specifically, we have directed NIE Energy to take specific steps to prevent price increases disproportionately impacting on Economy 7 users, who tend to be on low incomes. |