Stories

Sat, 03 Oct 2026

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 Rising energy costs add to cost of living for Northern Ireland's consumers

Households across Northern Ireland face increasing pressure on the cost of living as energy price hikes have come into effect.

* SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland's largest gas provider, raises prices by almost 19% for 200,000 customers
* Typical household in Belfast and west gas network areas will see annual gas bill increase by £172
* Wholesale gas prices have doubled since US and Israel began their attack on Iran
* Parents with young children are particularly affected, as keeping the house warm is essential for family well-being
* Many households are already struggling to afford heating, with some turning down services that could improve quality of life due to unaffordable electricity bills
* A one-off £63 reduction in electricity bills will be applied automatically from this month
* Other energy suppliers, including Firmus and Share Energy, have also increased prices by up to 12.6%
* The cost of living crisis is exacerbating an already difficult situation for students, with many planning to move abroad after graduation
* Home heating oil costs have soared in recent months, with 500 litres currently costing around £560