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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gas users face another price rise | Gas users face another price rise |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Phoenix Natural Gas is to increase its prices for the third time in a year. | Phoenix Natural Gas is to increase its prices for the third time in a year. |
| The company said the tariff would rise by 14.5% from Sunday. The average annual bill will now be £600 or £12 a week, a rise of £1.50 per week. | The company said the tariff would rise by 14.5% from Sunday. The average annual bill will now be £600 or £12 a week, a rise of £1.50 per week. |
| Phoenix said the increase was because wholesale prices remain high. Energy regulator Ofreg, which approved the rise, said it could have been worse. | Phoenix said the increase was because wholesale prices remain high. Energy regulator Ofreg, which approved the rise, said it could have been worse. |
| The Consumer Council described the rise as "a hard but predictable blow to the household budget." | The Consumer Council described the rise as "a hard but predictable blow to the household budget." |
| From next year onwards, we are going to take powers to control their prices much more strongly than we are able to just now Iain OsborneOfreg It also called on the regulator to move quickly to pass through any savings to consumers if gas costs start falling as they are predicted to do. | From next year onwards, we are going to take powers to control their prices much more strongly than we are able to just now Iain OsborneOfreg It also called on the regulator to move quickly to pass through any savings to consumers if gas costs start falling as they are predicted to do. |
| Wesley Henderson of the Consumer Council, said: "A price increase is unwelcome at any time for gas customers but particularly when people are already worried about rising rates and pending water bills. | Wesley Henderson of the Consumer Council, said: "A price increase is unwelcome at any time for gas customers but particularly when people are already worried about rising rates and pending water bills. |
| "It will undoubtedly pose further hardship to people whose incomes are not keeping up with rising household bills. | "It will undoubtedly pose further hardship to people whose incomes are not keeping up with rising household bills. |
| "However, we know from experience that it is better for consumers pay a fair and transparent price that reflects how much it costs Phoenix to bring gas to people's homes. | "However, we know from experience that it is better for consumers pay a fair and transparent price that reflects how much it costs Phoenix to bring gas to people's homes. |
| 'Reasonable' | 'Reasonable' |
| "Following a detailed examination of Phoenix's price review and in conjunction with Ofreg we believe that this increase is reasonable and largely driven by the recent high price of wholesale gas." | "Following a detailed examination of Phoenix's price review and in conjunction with Ofreg we believe that this increase is reasonable and largely driven by the recent high price of wholesale gas." |
| Phoenix Gas has raised prices three times in a yearOfreg spokesman Iain Osborne said the increase could have been higher. | |
| "They were asking for more than they ultimately done and we thought it was much more sensible to only pass through the bare minimum for customers," he said. | "They were asking for more than they ultimately done and we thought it was much more sensible to only pass through the bare minimum for customers," he said. |
| "This is clearly bad news for customers, particularly for people who struggle to pay their bills. | "This is clearly bad news for customers, particularly for people who struggle to pay their bills. |
| "From next year onwards, we are going to take powers to control their prices much more strongly than we are able to just now." | "From next year onwards, we are going to take powers to control their prices much more strongly than we are able to just now." |
| The price rise applies to more than 90,000 Phoenix Natural Gas customers in Northern Ireland. | The price rise applies to more than 90,000 Phoenix Natural Gas customers in Northern Ireland. |
| Phoenix put up its prices in January 2006 by 17% and that came after a 30% hike in September 2005, prompting outrage from the Consumer Council. | Phoenix put up its prices in January 2006 by 17% and that came after a 30% hike in September 2005, prompting outrage from the Consumer Council. |