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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Lifestyle

90% of Consumers Concerned About Rising Cost of Basics

New research published today by the Consumer Council shows 90% of consumers in Northern Ireland are concerned about the rising cost of basics. Basics refer to the everyday living essentials such as housing, energy, food, transport and telephone/mobile and broadband costs. The cost of home energy tops consumer concerns at 91%, followed by food and […]

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Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

SSE Airtricity Announces a 6.3% Price Decrease For Electricity

SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s second largest electricity supplier, has announced a price decrease of 6.3% for their electricity customers. This decrease will be effective from 1 March 2024 and will see around £79 savings for a typical customer with a standard rate credit meter and around £77 savings for a typical customer with a standard […]

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Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

Consumer Council Issue Advice as SSE Airtricity 7% Price Decrease Comes Into Effect for Electricity

Northern Ireland’s second largest electricity supplier, SSE Airtricity will reduce their standard tariffs by 7% tomorrow (1 November). This will mean savings of around £95 per year for a typical customer with a standard rate credit meter and savings of around £93 per year for a typical customer with a standard rate keypad meter. Peter […]

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Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

Budget Energy Announces an 8% Price Decrease for Electricity

Budget Energy, Northern Ireland’s third largest electricity supplier, has today announced a price decrease of 8% for their domestic electricity customers. This decrease will be effective from 1 December 2023 and will see around £112 savings for a typical customer with a standard rate credit meter and around £110 savings for a typical customer with […]

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Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

SSE Airtricity Announces a 7% price Decrease For Electricity

SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s second largest electricity supplier, has announced a price decrease of 7% for their electricity customers. This decrease will be effective from 1 November 2023 and will see around £95 savings for a typical customer with a standard rate credit meter and around £93 savings for a typical customer with a standard […]

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Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

Electric Ireland Announces Second Tariff Change in 2023

Electric Ireland will decrease its electricity tariff by 9.2% from 1 April 2023. This follows a 23.9% tariff increase on the 1 January 2023. This price reduction coincides with the UK Government’s announcement that the rate of EPG is reducing in Northern Ireland from 13.608p/kWh to 3.77p/kWh (excluding VAT) for electricity, meaning that consumer’s bills […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Government Stormont

Advice for Consumers as Roll Out of £600 Payments Begin in Northern Ireland

The Energy Bill Support Scheme payments will begin in Northern Ireland today, Monday 16 January, with the first payments being made to consumers registered as vulnerable with their energy supplier, and the remainder being posted in batches to assist delivery. Speaking as the first payments are dispatched, Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont Westminster

Discretionary Income for the Lowest Earning Households in Northern Ireland Drops by 46% in a Year

Northern Ireland’s lowest earning households have seen their discretionary income decrease by 46.1% compared to last year (from £45.32 to £24.41), meaning they have less than £25 per week to spend after bills and living expenses. These figures come from the Consumer Council’s latest Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker, which is published on a quarterly basis […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont Westminster

Consumers Encouraged to Consider Switching to Save Money on Energy Bills

The Consumer Council is calling on consumers to consider switching energy supplier to save money on their bills as the UK government’s Energy Price Guarantee scheme comes into effect in today, Tuesday 1 November 2022. Electricity and gas suppliers across Northern Ireland will apply tariff reductions as part of the scheme, which will reduce the […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

Consumer Council: Firmus Energy Announces Another Price Increase

Firmus energy has announced today, 6th September 2022, an increase of 56.3% effective from 3rd October 2022 for gas customers in both the Ten Towns and Greater Belfast gas networks. This is the third time firmus energy have increased their gas prices this year, and this will impact approximately 62,000 domestic and small business gas […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Crime Government Politics Stormont

Electric Ireland Set to Increase Their Electricity Prices Again!

Electric Ireland, the third largest electricity supplier in Northern Ireland, have announced today it will be increasing electricity prices by 29% for customers from 1 October 2022. This is the second increase from1 May 2022 and will see the typical credit meter and keypad (PAYG) customers’ bills rise by almost £275 per year. Raymond Gormley, […]

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Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living Government Stormont

Home Heating Oil Prices in Northern Ireland Exceed £1 per Litre!

The Consumer Council’s weekly heating oil survey shows heating oil prices in Northern Ireland have again breached £1 per litre, more than twice the ten-year average price.  Prices have increased by more than a 25% in the past three weeks, the equivalent of more than £100 on 500 litres of heating oil. Peter McClenaghan, Director […]