Electricity Users 'Switch' Suppliers

For the first time in Northern Ireland, domestic electricity users are to have a choice of suppliers.

Dublin-based firm, Airtricity is to compete with NIE Energy – the first time a supplier has entered the local sector since the market opened to competition in 2007.

Airtricity has said it expects to undercut prices by about 14% in the NI market and create 75 jobs.

The company claims customers can now typically save £95 on their annual household electricity bill, while also confirming that no minimum or fixed-term contracts would be entered into and consumers could make the switch without contacting their current supplier.

Under the present system 6,000 consumers will be permitted to switch to Airtricity each month.

However, the Utility Regulator, the power watchdog, is currently working with suppliers and the industry to introduce an unlimited switching system.

(NS/GK)