Electricity prices slashed in Northern Ireland
(13 September 2007)

Electricity prices are set to become cheaper for all in Northern Ireland as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will reduce electricity bills on November 1st, according to new reports.

The CER, which covers both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, has announced plans to cut rates for medium business customers by ten per cent and small businesses by 5.9 per cent.

Residential customers have also been handed a 5.4 per cent decrease, as the CER attempts to bring electricity fees in line with gas prices in the run up to the move to a single electricity market, which effects the whole of Ireland.

"This means that customers can expect lower bills throughout the winter period when electricity usage is highest," said a CER spokesman.

He continued: "The price reductions have been driven in the main by lower gas prices offset somewhat by increases in oil and coal prices."

The CER was set-up in 1999 and has been working with government ministers from the north and south of Ireland with the intention of creating an "all-island energy market".