Natural gas prices will return to summer 2020 levels
Following an increase in global wholesale gas prices, firmus energy has announced today (02 March 2021) that natural gas tariffs in the Ten Towns Network area will increase by 17.75% as from the 1st April 2021. This announcement follows three price reductions totalling 37%1 over the last 18 months that led to gas prices being at an historic low for firmus energy customers.
The change in tariff price means that the average household bill will rise by £1.43 per week2, bringing prices back to broadly Summer 2020 levels.
The Ten Towns Network area 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.
Michael Scott, Managing Director of firmus energy, said:
“We know that price stability is important for our customers but the increase of wholesale natural gas costs on the global market, which are beyond our control, have unfortunately made this increase inevitable.
“During 2020 the price of wholesale gas decreased dramatically on the world markets, leading to firmus energy being able to offer our lowest ever tariffs. Today’s announcement, while unwelcome, is a sign of the market readjusting after 2020 to more standard levels.
“Any increase is never welcome news and we recognise this comes at a particularly difficult time for many. We want to assure our customers that we will continue to monitor and review our tariffs to ensure customers are getting the best prices possible”.
“There is a clear ambition to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions in Northern Ireland. Every home converting from oil to natural gas benefits from an immediate CO2 reduction of 48%”.
firmus energy is a regulated business and the Utility Regulator has scrutinised firmus energy’s actual costs to supply gas to homes and businesses in the Ten Towns Network area. This announcement follows the ongoing tariff review process that is carried out by firmus energy and the Utility Regulator, in consultation with the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
Customers seeking advice on their natural gas bills or direct debit payments should contact the firmus energy Customer Services team on 0330 024 9000. Anyone seeking information on connecting or switching to firmus energy natural gas can also go to www.firmusenergy.co.uk
For free and independent advice on how to save energy please contact NI Energy Advice Line on 0800 1422865.
Customers in the Greater Belfast area and the West Network area covering Strabane, Omagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Enniskillen and Derrylin will not be impacted by today’s announcement.
ENDS
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Notes to editors:
- firmus energy is a natural gas distribution and supply company, based in Antrim. Since 2005, firmus energy has connected over 50,000 customers in its network area (outside greater Belfast) and supplies natural gas to over 100,000 across Northern Ireland.
- The Ten Towns area 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.
- This tariff announcement does not apply to the Greater Belfast or West network areas.
- 137% is based on the PAYG Ten Towns Network tariff price at April 19 (5.546) compared to Oct 2020 (3.492)
- 2This is based on typical Medium Domestic Consumption Value of 12,000kWh per year as published by OFGEM. £1.43 is based on a typical firmus energy network domestic PAYG customer. A typical firmus energy credit customer will increase by £1.50 per week.
