Full Breakdown
SSE Airtricity to Raise Gas Prices by Almost 19% in Northern Ireland
8/28/2026, 8:41:03 PM
Price Increase Details
From 1 October, SSE Airtricity will raise the unit price of natural gas for its roughly 200,000 domestic and small-business customers by almost 19%. The change translates to an increase of about £172 on the annual gas bill of a typical household in the greater Belfast and west gas network areas.
Context: Global Energy Volatility and the Middle-East Conflict
Wholesale gas prices in the UK have effectively doubled since the United States and Israel began their attack on Iran, a conflict that has also driven oil prices higher by restricting flow through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s key oil and liquefied natural gas transport routes.
Official Statements & Responses
- SSE Airtricity explained that the sustained rise in wholesale gas costs, driven by the ongoing Middle-East conflict, is the main reason for the increase.
- Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, described the 19.2 % rise as “a significant amount” and noted that the regulator’s comparison shows Northern Ireland’s gas price is about £60 higher than the rest of the UK but still a few hundred pounds cheaper than the Republic of Ireland.
Impact on Households and Small Businesses
The higher bill adds pressure on consumers already facing rising electricity costs. Small-business owners such as Glenn Davies, co-owner of The Upper Crust restaurant in Larne, said the gas bill is already around £400 per month, with electricity costs of about £500 weekly, making the additional gas charge “hard to contend with” for a daytime restaurant operating six days a week.
Verbatim Quote
“That area is a major oil and gas producer, so when those ships are being curtailed in the Strait of Hormuz, they are not getting out to their destinations. That means everyone is feeling the pinch and everyone else is competing for oil and gas.” — Raymond Gormley — Raymond Gormley
