SSE Airtricity has announced it will increase its standard household electricity and gas prices from April.
This change will see a typical electricity customer’s bill increase by 10.5%, while a typical gas customer’s bill will rise by 8.4%.
The company said this will result in an additional €0.47 per day on the average electricity bill and €0.31 per day on the average gas bill.
Dual fuel household bills will increase by 9.5% on average, equivalent to around €0.78 per day.
The price change is allegedly in response to rises in external costs including network charges and wholesale energy costs.
Hands with 100 Euro banknotes, which are counted and put on a table. Image: Klaus Ohlenschlaeger / Alamy. 5 January 2018SSE Airtricity Managing Director Stephen Gallagher said SSE Airtricity is committed to working with and supporting their customers and increasing prices is always a last resort.
“We have worked hard over the past few years to shield customers from the full impact of volatile energy costs,” he said.
“We’re proud to have led the market in customer support measures throughout the cost of living and energy crises, including the largest customer support package in the market and the foregoing of company profits in 2023 in favour of prioritising customer measures.
“We have reduced electricity tariffs by 31% and gas by 28% since October 2022.”
Man with many bills or invoices and no money. Alamy 2024Mr Gallagher said he knows this news will be “disappointing” for customers.
“Network charges increased by around 20% in October 2024 and wholesale costs are 18% higher compared to this time last year,” he said.
“While we shielded customers from the impact of increased networks and other costs for six months, including the winter months, such regulatory charges are outside of our control, and we can no longer absorb these costs.”
Mr Gallagher said any customer concerned about their energy costs or experiencing financial difficulty should contact the company directly and they will work to find a solution.
10 and 20 Euro notes on top of electricity bills, © PA Archive/PA Images
