Electricity prices for domestic consumers in Northern Ireland are set to go up by almost 3 per cent from the start of April, it was announced today.
Northern Ireland Electricity said the rise of 2.8 per cent was a result of a significant increase in power station fuel costs but added that it was in line with inflation.
It will mean a typical customer paying around 16.5p a week or £8.60 a year extra.
The company said fuel costs at power stations in the North had increased by around 12 per cent last year.
NIE spokesman Mr Robin Greer said: "These price increases are disappointing and unwelcome, especially since NIE's own charges to the customer continue to fall under the current price control."
Business charges are being held unchanged for three months to provide extra time for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to secure permission from the EC for a £30 million support package.
During the next year, all businesses in Northern Ireland will become eligible to choose between rival electricity suppliers to obtain competitive prices.