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20/09/2011
Gas Price Hike 'Sweetened'
The gas supplier, Firmus Energy has ended its previously announced summer price freeze and is set to increase tariffs by over 35% from 1 October - fuelling fears over 'fuel poverty' among the most needy - but also pointing to a better deal on discounts for users.
It has around 8,500 customers in the greater Belfast area - compared to competitor, Phoenix Gas - that has more than 130,000.
Two weeks after the firm raised tariffs for its 'Ten Towns' - those outside Belfast - by 28.4%, the Acting General Manager Michael Scott said the firm was however also increasing its discount over rival supplier Phoenix from 7.5 to 10%.
The firm also announced the start of switching for customers using pay as you go technology who make up around half of the consumer base in the province.
The news came just a day after the DUP called upon the Government at Westminster to maintain the winter fuel payment at its current level to combat the problem of fuel poverty amongst older people.
The call came in a debate within the Northern Ireland Assembly proposed by North Antrim DUP MLAs David McIlveen and Paul Frew.
Mr McIlveen said: "We ought to view the Winter Fuel Payment as sending out a message about how we treat our older population.
"We must not forget, this is a generation of people who have built up our country through exceptionally difficult and challenging circumstances."
He also said that the issue "is a matter of life and death for some".
The DUP claimed that, in 2009-10 there were 950 deaths during the winter - over and above the usual annual average.
These are what statisticians call 'excess winter deaths' and 80% of these were 60-years-old and over.
"The impact "of the coalition Government's decision to cut winter fuel payments has a direct impact upon figures such as those," said a party statement.
The SDLP Social Development spokesperson Mark H Durkan has also called for proper resources to be put in place to ensure that winter fuel payments are raised to reflect the rise in the cost of fuel.
Yesterday, he said that the payments must be opened to other groups thus alleviating the burden on our health service.
The Foyle MLA was speaking during a debate on fuel poverty in the Assembly on Monday.
He said: "We must do all we can to protect winter fuel payments - this assembly, as a functioning institution must do all it can to take proactive steps to tackle fuel poverty."
(BMcC)
It has around 8,500 customers in the greater Belfast area - compared to competitor, Phoenix Gas - that has more than 130,000.
Two weeks after the firm raised tariffs for its 'Ten Towns' - those outside Belfast - by 28.4%, the Acting General Manager Michael Scott said the firm was however also increasing its discount over rival supplier Phoenix from 7.5 to 10%.
The firm also announced the start of switching for customers using pay as you go technology who make up around half of the consumer base in the province.
The news came just a day after the DUP called upon the Government at Westminster to maintain the winter fuel payment at its current level to combat the problem of fuel poverty amongst older people.
The call came in a debate within the Northern Ireland Assembly proposed by North Antrim DUP MLAs David McIlveen and Paul Frew.
Mr McIlveen said: "We ought to view the Winter Fuel Payment as sending out a message about how we treat our older population.
"We must not forget, this is a generation of people who have built up our country through exceptionally difficult and challenging circumstances."
He also said that the issue "is a matter of life and death for some".
The DUP claimed that, in 2009-10 there were 950 deaths during the winter - over and above the usual annual average.
These are what statisticians call 'excess winter deaths' and 80% of these were 60-years-old and over.
"The impact "of the coalition Government's decision to cut winter fuel payments has a direct impact upon figures such as those," said a party statement.
The SDLP Social Development spokesperson Mark H Durkan has also called for proper resources to be put in place to ensure that winter fuel payments are raised to reflect the rise in the cost of fuel.
Yesterday, he said that the payments must be opened to other groups thus alleviating the burden on our health service.
The Foyle MLA was speaking during a debate on fuel poverty in the Assembly on Monday.
He said: "We must do all we can to protect winter fuel payments - this assembly, as a functioning institution must do all it can to take proactive steps to tackle fuel poverty."
(BMcC)
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A new wood fuel pellet production facility based in Enniskillen looks set to safeguard 200 jobs as well as create a further 20 positions in the foreseeable future. Balcas Ltd recently started production on one of Europe’s fastest growing renewable energy sources called ‘brites’ – the bio fuel pellet.
04 February 2005
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British Airways have reported a dramatic drop in profits in the latest trading figures - £75 million, compared to £125 million in the same period last year. British Airways Chief Executive, Rod Eddington attributed the fall in profits to rising fuel costs, which he said had increased by £106 million (47.3%).
07 September 2011
Thousands Of Families Face Fuel Poverty
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Thousands Of Families Face Fuel Poverty
A shocking 75,000 NI households are living in severe fuel poverty by recognised national standards. Yesterday, the Stormont Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland welcomed the publication of a report by the University of Ulster entitled 'Defining Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland: A Preliminary Review'.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Another dry and mainly cloudy evening and overnight period, likely cloudiest towards coastal Down and Antrim. It will be a mild night in most places but a little colder where skies become clearer. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
