Firmus will reduce gas prices 'as soon as it can', Antrim and Newtownabbey Council told

Speaking after a presentation to the borough council’s Community Planning Committee, Paul Stanfield, director of sales, marketing and customer services, at Firmus Energy, said the company will reduce prices “as soon as it can”.

However, the director stated that the price of wholesale gas is “out of our control”. He pointed out that 82 per cent of a customer’s gas bill is the cost of wholesale gas.

Tariffs are regulated by the Utility Regulator, evaluated and consulted upon with the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council.

The director went on to say that the gas company had a loss of £6m last year.

Airport Ulster Unionist Alderman Paul Michael BEM said that families are facing an additional £850 to be added to their gas bill after experiencing four increases this year.

Ald Michael asked what actions Firmus is taking to address this issue in the local community.

Mr Stanfield replied: “Firmus are concerned for every customer. The wholesale price is out of our control. We have a local customer service team dealing with everybody involved.”

He said the company is working with agencies such as Christians Against Poverty where customers can be directed for help.

He also commented: “We are managing customer debt but we absolutely understand the pain customers out there are facing. As soon as things start to change, we will reduce prices as soon as we can. You can be assured of that.”

Alternative Sources

The director also told councillors of alternative gas sources which may be implemented in the future such as hydrogen and biomethane, a renewable gas produced from animal and food waste.

He indicated that biomethane could “go straight into the network”. However, he said it would be approximately ten years before hydrogen could be used in the province’s gas network.

Mr Stanfield went on to say the use of biomethane has the potential to make Northern Ireland “self-sufficient in relation to renewable energy”.

“We could produce our own natural gas from waste animal litter and waste food. It is a long-term plan. In the current market, there would be savings for the end user if we could utilise biomethane.

“It is an action that would take us away from reliance on Russia.”

The director went on to say there are now 30 towns and villages in the Firmus network in Northern Ireland.

“Our building programme is almost complete. We look forward to the day when wholesale prices start to drop again,” he stated.

Firmus Energy has invested £18m in Antrim, Ballyclare and Crumlin since 2005 and has £1.3m investment planned for the remainder of 2022and 2023. It has connected 7,500 customers in Antrim and Newtownabbey to the gas network resulting in the reduction of 27,000 tones of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually.

By the end of 2022, 550,000 properties in Northern Ireland will have access to the gas network.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter