'Very unwelcome news' for consumers as Power NI and firmus energy announce price increases
Consumers are urged to think how they pay for their energy with two of the province’s main suppliers announcing significant price hikes on Friday (May 29).
Power NI – Northern Ireland’s biggest electricity supplier – is set to increase its tariff for residential customers by 6.2% from July 1.
A typical Power NI customer with a credit meter will see their bill rise by around £64 per year, while customers with a keypad (PAYG) meter will see a yearly increase of about £62.
Karen Smyth, director of infrastructure and sustainability at the Consumer Council, said: “From July, over 500,000 homes in Northern Ireland will see their annual electricity cost increase to around £1,093 for a typical credit customer and increase to around £1,065 a year for a typical keypad customer.
“The Consumer Council works closely with the Utility Regulator and regulated supply companies to ensure consumers are protected and supported during price increases. We also ensure that any cost savings are passed onto consumers quickly when wholesale energy prices or network-related costs begin to decrease.
"Any Power NI 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.”
Karen 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 option, changing billing method or even switching supplier may save you money.”
Meanwhile, firmus energy has announced an increase on regulated gas tariffs of 15.65%, for domestic and small business customers in the Ten Towns gas network areas, effective from July 1 too.
The firmus energy tariff increase means the annual gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will rise by around £132. Customers with a prepayment gas meter (PAYG) will see their typical costs increase by around £129 per year. This announcement follows a previous tariff decrease of 10.10% from firmus energy in April 2026.
Announcing this latest tariff change, David Smith, director at firmus energy Supply, said: “Over recent months we have been monitoring global markets closely and protecting consumers from price changes for as long as possible. Unfortunately, we continue to experience elevated wholesale prices while the conflict in the Middle East remains unresolved.
“Over the last year or so we have reduced our tariffs on three separate occasions, bringing tariffs down by over 27% and saving customers around £300 on average per annum.
"Today’s announcement, whilst unwelcome, means that customers’ bills will now be roughly the same as this time last year and still significantly below where they had been in previous years. Through our ability to forward purchase gas months in advance, we have been able to protect customers from the higher wholesale gas costs experienced recently.
"As Northern Ireland’s largest gas supplier by volume, we want to provide the best value possible to all our customers and we have demonstrated that when we are in a position to reduce tariffs we do so without delay, and we hope to be able to do so again once the global markets stabilise."
The increase will impact around 76,000 domestic and small business firmus energy gas customers in the network area which includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon (including Lurgan and Portadown), Limavady, Derry-Londonderry, Newry and more than 25 other towns and villages in the surrounding areas.
There has been no announcement regarding the Greater Belfast Network area which covers Belfast, Lisburn, Bangor, Holywood, Donaghadee, Groomsport, Millisle, Newtownards, Carryduff, Comber, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Larne, and East Down.
Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council, said: “This is very unwelcome news but given that global wholesale gas prices have increased significantly as a direct consequence of the ongoing Middle East conflict, a rise on gas tariffs was inevitable.
"Another regulated gas tariff review is scheduled for October and if the conflict is not resolved very soon, we could see further gas price increases in the autumn.”
The Consumer Council’s website has advice and information on how to save money by being more energy efficient at home, and information on organisations who can help if you are struggling to keep on top of energy bills; visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk.
For consumers who do not have internet access or would like additional support in checking energy tariffs, call 0800 121 6022.
The Utility Regulator has confirmed it has concluded its review of the regulated tariffs for Power NI and firmus energy (Ten Towns area).
Leigh Greer, head of security of supply and markets regulation at the Utility Regulator, said: “In early May 2026, we began a review of the regulated tariffs for Power NI’s domestic electricity customers and Firmus Energy’s domestic and small business gas customers in the Ten Towns area.
“Our analysis has resulted in the following changes: Power NI’s domestic electricity tariff will increase by 6.2% or £64 a year. Firmus Energy’s tariff for domestic and small business customers in the Ten Towns area will increase by 15.7% or £132 a year.
“SSE Airtricity’s regulated gas tariff in the Greater Belfast Area has not been part of this review but will be included in a review process that will begin in August, in advance of a possible 1 October change.
“We understand this increase in energy costs is not welcome news for consumers. Unfortunately, the impact of continued and sustained rises in the wholesale cost of energy, caused by the conflict in the Middle East, has resulted in these increases.
"The conflict has impacted energy prices globally, and has already affected home heating oil, petrol and diesel prices."