Rising energy costs add to cost of living for Northern Ireland's consumers
Households in Northern Ireland are facing significant financial strain as SSE Airtricity raised gas prices by nearly 19% due to global market volatility. The price increase, which adds approximately £172 to typical annual bills, is forcing families, students, and vulnerable individuals to cut back on other expenses or seek free community resources for warmth. Healthcare professionals report that these rising costs are exacerbating fuel poverty, particularly for terminally ill patients who require higher energy usage for medical care.
- ▪SSE Airtricity increased gas prices by almost 19% for its 200,000 domestic and small business customers in Northern Ireland.
- ▪The price hike results in an annual increase of nearly £172 for a typical household in the greater Belfast and west gas network areas.
- ▪Wholesale gas prices in the UK have effectively doubled following the US and Israel's attack on Iran.
- ▪Community centers like libraries are seeing increased usage from residents seeking free heating and social interaction to combat rising living costs.
- ▪Palliative care nurses report that terminally ill patients are struggling with fuel poverty and turning down essential services due to unaffordable electricity bills.
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| Original publisher | BBC News — Business |
| Canonical URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5j9x99yep92o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss |
| Publication time | Sat, 03 Oct 2026 05:27:43 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-10-03T05:28:13.431Z |
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Rising energy costs add to cost of living for Northern Ireland's consumersImage source, BBC / Ryan McStayByAdam Mandeville and Clodagh Rice, Business correspondent, BBC News NIPublishedJust nowHouseholds across Northern Ireland face increasing pressure on the cost of living as energy price hikes have come into effect.Northern Ireland's largest provider of natural gas, SSE Airtricity, increased its prices by almost 19% on Thursday for its 200,000 domestic and small business customers.That means the annual gas bill of a typical household in the greater Belfast and west gas network areas will increase by almost £172.The company said "unprecedented levels of volatility in global energy markets and higher wholesale gas prices" had led to the price rise.Wholesale gas prices in the UK have…
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