SSE Airtricity to increase prices from October

SSE Airtricity has announced that it will increase prices for its customers from 1st October, with electricity bills to rise by over 35per cent, and gas bills to increase by 39 per cent.

The company said the war in Ukraine and "heightened geopolitical tensions" have resulted in what it described as "sustained and unprecedented increases in wholesale energy costs".

The energy supplier is increasing the unit price of its electricity by 45.2% and the unit price of its gas by 46.3% from 1 October.

Under the changes, a typical customer's gas bill will rise by as much as €1.40 per day, with electricity up around €1.62 per day.

Dual fuel household bills will increase by 37% on average, which is equivalent to around €3.02 per day.

Deputy Darren O'Rourke, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Climate Action, said proposals by the utility regulator (CRU) to protect households against the worst impact of runaway fuel costs do not go far enough.

He said a ban on disconnections needs to be introduced for all customers throughout the fuel allowance season, in line with provisions in Sinn Féin’s Prohibition of Winter Disconnections Bill, while Senator Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Climate Justice, called for utility companies to be forced to offer their cheapest tariff rate to all consumers.

Deputy O'Rourke said: “The massive increase in the cost of light and heat is putting huge financial pressure on families, and this is set to worsen throughout the winter.

“In addition to a windfall tax on energy companies and financial support for households, other protections like an expanded ban on disconnections is needed.

“The CRU announced additional protections last night, but these do not go far enough, considering the scale of the challenge people are now facing due to the massive rise in energy costs.

“A ban on disconnections for vulnerable customers will now run from 1st October until 31st March. We believe this needs to be in place for all customers this winter.

“Last year, Sinn Féin introduced the Prohibition of Winter Disconnections Bill to ban disconnections during the fuel allowance season every year. We recognise households who are struggling financially need support during this time, not the threat of having their light and heat cut off over the winter.

“Disconnections are a very real issue for many people. For example, in 2019, there were 5,008 domestic disconnections for electricity and 2,424 for gas."

Senator Boylan said: “We further believe energy companies should also be required to offer all customers their best tariff rate.

“Last night the CRU announced that all customers with a financial hardship meter will be placed on the cheapest tariff available from their supplier. While this is welcome, again, it doesn’t go far enough given the astronomical price of energy and the reality that every household will struggle with bills this winter.

“We believe utility companies should offer all customers their cheapest available tariff.

“Some customers are on much higher rates as they may not have changed supplier in some time. This is adding even more to their bills. People should not be punished for staying with one energy provider.”