 Firmus will distribute gas to 10 NI towns |
Gas supplier Firmus Energy, which has the licence to bring natural gas to 10 towns outside Belfast, has announced its domestic and commercial tariffs. Firmus will distribute gas to towns including Londonderry, Ballymena, Limavady, Ballymoney and Coleraine.
Last week Phoenix Gas came under fire for increasing its prices by a further 17% - the second rise in four months.
Firmus's Mark Prentice said its tariff prices set for the towns "are very much specific to our licensed area".
He added: "What they will do is provide a competitive price for natural gas versus oil and LPG.
"We believe that customers switching to natural gas in the coming couple of years will save on average 10-15% versus their existing fuel."
'Take action'
Mr Prentice said despite the recent price rises in the wholesale price of gas, customers would still be willing to switch over from their current fuel suppliers.
The increase by Phoenix means an average annual bill will soar by 52%, or �200, in four months.
The latest 17% increase comes on top of a 30% rise announced in September, prompting a call for the gas regulator, Ofreg, to take action.
Ofreg said it was not surprised by the rise but the General Consumer Council said it was "appalling" and a "severe blow" to customers.
The price rise came into effect on 23 January and applies to more than 90,000 Phoenix Natural Gas customers in Northern Ireland.
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