Electricity prices to fall for winter says SSE Airtricity

SSE Airtricity said this is a sign of the company being able to pass on lower wholesale prices to customers.

SSE Airtricity has announced a 7% cut in electricity prices from November.

The price cut will mean typical customers are expected to save almost £90 a year, according to the energy company.

It also said this is a sign of the company being able to pass on lower wholesale prices to customers.

It comes after the Northern Ireland's Utility Regulator last month announced a review which could mean lower energy prices.

Price cuts for winter

At the time of the last price review in June, tariffs were cut but consumer bills actually increased because of the government's Energy Price Guarantee (EPG).

The EPG required suppliers to apply a discount to the price of each unit of gas or electricity to protect consumers from soaring prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Managing director of SSE Airtricity, Klair Neenan, said the announcement should be good news for electricity customers as we head into the winter months.

Ms Neenan added: "We're acutely aware of the pressure people have been experiencing with the cost of living crisis.

"We recognise that this continues to be a difficult time for many," she added.

• Five tips for cutting energy costs this winter

Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council, said the price drop was welcome but warned many people in Northern Ireland continue to struggle to pay for energy.

"Despite this announcement, electricity prices remain significantly higher than the pre-pandemic norm," he said.

"Similarly, natural gas prices remain high, heating oil prices have increased recently and petrol and diesel prices are rising at the pumps."

SSE Airtricity join other energy companies in announcing price cuts including Firmus Energy who announced gas prices in the Ten Towns area - which includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Craigavon, Londonderry and Newry - fall by almost 8% in October.