Electricity prices in Northern Ireland are to rise by 14 per cent, it was announced today.
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said the increase for domestic and business customers in the will come into effect from July 1st.
The company cited rising wholesale energy prices worldwide for the hike and warned another bill rise was likely in the autumn.
It said the cost of gas, coal, oil and other fuels used to generate electricity had risen by 85 per cent on average since the last time it reviewed prices.
The 14 per cent increase will add around £1 a week to bills resulting in an average annual household electricity bill of £439 (€552). A spokeswoman for the company said this was still 9 per cent below domestic tariffs in the Republic.
“We had hoped to hold our prices until later in the year, but wholesale gas, oil and coal prices have increased substantially in recent months,” she said.