“We continue to do everything we can for our customers to limit the impact of ongoing volatility in the energy market.”
Stock image(Image: Getty)
Bills for SSE Airtricity domestic customers in Northern Ireland are set to increase by more than £70 a year.
It has been announced that the electricity provider will increase tariffs by 6.2% from 1 August 2026. This will see a typical electricity customer’s bill rise by about £71.57 a year.
In a statement, Stephen Gallagher, the company’s managing director, said: “We understand this is unwelcome news. Increasing our prices is never a decision we take lightly.”
He added the higher wholesale market costs are “outside of our control”.
“We continue to do everything we can for our customers to limit the impact of ongoing volatility in the energy market,” he said and urged customers experiencing difficulty to contact them to “find a solution together”.
Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council, said: “From August, approximately 134,000 homes in Northern Ireland will see their annual electricity cost increase, bringing the average annual electricity bill for a typical credit and keypad customer to around £1,305. While this is disappointing for households, the rise reflects the recent increase in energy wholesale costs.
“Any SSE Airtricity customers who are struggling to pay their electricity bills or top up their keypad meter should contact their supplier without delay to get advice and support.”
He added: “We would encourage consumers to think about the way they pay for their energy and see if they can reduce their energy costs.
“Being on a standard tariff and paying on receipt of a bill is the most expensive way to pay for your electricity. Switching payment methods, changing billing method or even switching supplier may save you money.”
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