Prices for electricity in the Republic are far significantly lower than in Northern Ireland, the ESB has claimed. It said a price survey has shown that electricity costs for some industrial users are up to 31 per cent higher in the North.

Prices for the average domestic user were 23 per cent higher in the North than in the Republic, according to the ESB which said the survey backed up previous research results.

An ESB spokesman said the figures were based on details which both the ESB and Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) had submitted to the Electricity Association of London.