The Consumer Council in Northern Ireland has warned that plans by Firmus Energy to increase the price of domestic gas in the North by more than 28 per cent will put further pressure on energy consumers.

Firmus Energy, which is owned by Bord Gais, holds an exclusive licence to supply natural gas in 10 towns across Northern Ireland including Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Limavady, Derry and Newry.

Its proposed 28.4 per cent price hike follows recent price increases by a number of key energy suppliers in Northern Ireland including Phoenix Supply, Power NI, the Coal Advisory Service and several home heating oil providers.

John French from the Consumer Council said the organisation is worried that people in Northern Ireland will be unable to heat their homes.

Mr French said energy consumers would be faced with "very stark decisions this winter".

"These energy price hikes are hitting already under pressure households and our research shows many households have already reached the limit of what they can afford."

According to the consumer champion Northern Ireland already has the highest level of fuel poverty in the UK.
It says that a government survey showed two years ago 44 per cent of households in the North struggled to heat their homes to adequate levels.

The Consumer Council has today called on the Northern Ireland Executive to intervene to support households who are struggling to meet energy costs. It says one urgent step for the Executive to take is to encourage as many people as possible to benefit from cheaper heating bills.

It is estimated that on average it costs a house £1085 per year more to heat their house with oil as compared to gas.