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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| NI manufacturing energy costs 'among highest in Europe' | NI manufacturing energy costs 'among highest in Europe' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Energy costs for manufacturers in Northern Ireland are among the highest in Europe, according to a report. | Energy costs for manufacturers in Northern Ireland are among the highest in Europe, according to a report. |
| Research for the Utility Regulator showed the price was double that paid in countries such as France and Sweden. | Research for the Utility Regulator showed the price was double that paid in countries such as France and Sweden. |
| It was also significantly higher than the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. | It was also significantly higher than the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. |
| An organisation that represents manufacturers in Northern Ireland said the high costs had a major impact on job creation. | |
| The regulator said the report provided a comparison of electricity prices in Northern Ireland with the rest of Europe for the first time. | |
| It found that for domestic consumers and for small industrial and commercial consumers, electricity prices were about the EU average. But for 30% of manufacturing customers, prices were among the highest in Europe. | It found that for domestic consumers and for small industrial and commercial consumers, electricity prices were about the EU average. But for 30% of manufacturing customers, prices were among the highest in Europe. |
| The chief executive of the Utility Regulator, Shane Lynch, said: "It is important that there is transparency on energy pricing and we therefore made a commitment to collate and publish such data. | The chief executive of the Utility Regulator, Shane Lynch, said: "It is important that there is transparency on energy pricing and we therefore made a commitment to collate and publish such data. |
| Expensive | Expensive |
| "The data will also be a useful basis for framing discussion around factors affecting energy prices going forward. | "The data will also be a useful basis for framing discussion around factors affecting energy prices going forward. |
| "Clearly aspects of the data require some discussion, not least of which is the finding which shows that larger electricity users are paying nearly the highest prices in Europe." | "Clearly aspects of the data require some discussion, not least of which is the finding which shows that larger electricity users are paying nearly the highest prices in Europe." |
| He said that they would work to integrate the wholesale market with western Europe by 2016. | He said that they would work to integrate the wholesale market with western Europe by 2016. |
| "We also recognise that regulators, policy makers, consumer representatives and the electricity industry especially, all have some responsibility in helping to explain the pricing picture," he added. | "We also recognise that regulators, policy makers, consumer representatives and the electricity industry especially, all have some responsibility in helping to explain the pricing picture," he added. |
| Bryan Gray from Manufacturing NI said high energy costs were nothing new for businesses in Northern Ireland. | Bryan Gray from Manufacturing NI said high energy costs were nothing new for businesses in Northern Ireland. |
| "What we badly need now is a new strategy from government to address this issue," he said. | "What we badly need now is a new strategy from government to address this issue," he said. |
| "Energy costs are a vital tool in rebalancing our economy, developing jobs in the private sector, and a major cost factor for manufacturing industry. It badly needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency." | "Energy costs are a vital tool in rebalancing our economy, developing jobs in the private sector, and a major cost factor for manufacturing industry. It badly needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency." |