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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Economy 7 users face bigger bills | Economy 7 users face bigger bills |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Householders across Northern Ireland are to see their electricity bills rise by almost 4%. | Householders across Northern Ireland are to see their electricity bills rise by almost 4%. |
| The increase, announced by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) for next month, will affect over 690,000 domestic customers. | The increase, announced by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) for next month, will affect over 690,000 domestic customers. |
| The rise of 3.9% will add about 28 pence a week to the average household electricity bill. | The rise of 3.9% will add about 28 pence a week to the average household electricity bill. |
| Hardest hit will be users of Economy 7 whose bills will jump by 14%. However, businesses will pay just 1% more. | Hardest hit will be users of Economy 7 whose bills will jump by 14%. However, businesses will pay just 1% more. |
| Some companies may even see their tariff reduced. | |
| The new tariff will apply from 1 November. | The new tariff will apply from 1 November. |
| The Consumer Council described the increase as "unwelcome but reasonable". | The Consumer Council described the increase as "unwelcome but reasonable". |
| 'Real action' | 'Real action' |
| However, it said the rise would come as a body-blow to the 45,000 users of Economy 7 who would have to pay an extra £50 a year, an increase of 14%. | However, it said the rise would come as a body-blow to the 45,000 users of Economy 7 who would have to pay an extra £50 a year, an increase of 14%. |
| "The Consumer Council has called for real action to help these households, a third of which may already be in fuel poverty and stuck with Economy 7," the council said. | "The Consumer Council has called for real action to help these households, a third of which may already be in fuel poverty and stuck with Economy 7," the council said. |
| NIE Spokesperson Kerstie Forsyth said: "This lower than inflation increase should be viewed against the cut in prices of 3% applied from April 2007. | NIE Spokesperson Kerstie Forsyth said: "This lower than inflation increase should be viewed against the cut in prices of 3% applied from April 2007. |
| "The tariffs announced today reflect higher wholesale gas and coal prices since April 2007, as well as environmental and carbon costs. | "The tariffs announced today reflect higher wholesale gas and coal prices since April 2007, as well as environmental and carbon costs. |
| "NIE's domestic electricity prices remain 8% below those of ESB4 in the South and in line with those in GB comparator regions." | "NIE's domestic electricity prices remain 8% below those of ESB4 in the South and in line with those in GB comparator regions." |
| Ms Forsyth said NIE did not plan to review tariffs again until September 2008. | Ms Forsyth said NIE did not plan to review tariffs again until September 2008. |