SSE Airtricity to increase electricity and gas prices impacting over 335,000 customers

Eva Osborne

SSE Airtricity has announced it will increase the unit rate of its electricity and gas prices from April 2nd, impacting around 250,000 electricity customers and 85,000 gas customers.

The supplier is increasing the unit rate of its electricity by 12.75 per cent and the unit rate of its gas by 10.5 per cent.

The increase will add around €171 a year to the average household's electricity bill and €114 a year to average gas bill, Bonkers.ie, which compares gas and electricity deals, has said.

The increase comes on the back of rising wholesale energy prices in recent months, which remain highly volatile.

The supplier has also cited increased network transmission charges or 'grid fees' as a reason for the hike.

Head of communications at Bonkers.ie, Daragh Cassidy, said the news is "obviously unwelcome" for households.

"However in recent weeks wholesale gas and electricity prices have increased significantly again. And last autumn, the CRU also sanctioned a big increase in network charges or ‘grid fees’ for the upkeep of the electricity and gas networks. And some of that increase is now being ed on to consumers as was always feared," he explained.

"The only small reprieve is that this hike is coming at the end of winter when energy bills typically become less of a burden for households

"Before today, SSE had the lowest standard rates in the market as it was one of the few suppliers to reduce prices three times over the past two years. So even after this hike, its prices will remain relatively competitive.

"The questions now is whether other suppliers will follow suit."

Despite the news from SSE Airtricity, Cassidy said there is still good competition among energy suppliers in Ireland for new customers.

“I can’t over emphasise how quick and easy it is to switch and it can all be done online in the space of a few minutes. You don’t even have to your existing supplier to let them know you’re leaving," he said.

“I’d also encourage anyone concerned about high energy costs to check out any Government s that they may be entitled to such as the winter fuel allowance, the free electricity allowance or the additional needs payment.

"Some suppliers have also set up hardship funds which will provide financial to those most in need, so I’d encourage people to chat to their suppliers too."