Further Electricity Price Reduction

15 Sep 2009

NIE Energy announces a 5% reduction in its electricity prices effective from October, the second price cut by the company this year.

This latest decrease means an average household will save a further £26 a year off its annual electricity bill[1]. This is on top of the 10.8% price cut NIE Energy implemented in January.

Householders here will now pay £64 less on average than ESB prices[2] in the RoI and also less than in many countries in Europe, such as Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

NIE Energy business customers will see a similar percentage reduction to households, with exact reductions depending on their electricity consumption and tariff.

There is more good news for farmers. NIE Energy is cutting the standing charge for Farm Nightsaver by 22%, making this tariff even more attractive to farmers.

NIE Energy Managing Director Stephen McCully said: “We know a lot of household budgets are tight at the moment, so we are pleased to be able to cut prices for the second time this year.

“NIE Energy was the first electricity supply company in the UK to cut prices this year and with this further reduction, our household customers will see the biggest overall reduction this year as well.
“We take our commitment to helping our customers, and especially vulnerable households, very seriously. In fact, NIE Energy customers can get discounted electricity and pay as they go along with a Keypad meter, rather than get bills.”
Help for Customers
Installed free of charge, a Keypad meter means NIE Energy customers can pay as they go along, to suit their budget, as well as being able to watch their electricity use with a handy monitoring device. Keypad customers get a 2.5% discount off the standard price of electricity.
Another discounted payment option is Keypad ‘Powershift’ which gives lower cost electricity every evening, weekend and during the day Monday to Friday - in fact, at all times except between 5 - 8pm daily Monday – Friday (changes to 4-7pm when the clocks change in the autumn).

NIE Energy is delighted to announce the addition of a new Keypad top-up outlet. From October, the Post Office will be offering top ups, in addition to Paypoint, Payzone and NIE Energy’s automated telephone service. Top ups are also available online at www.nieenergy.co.uk

Householders paying by direct debit can get up to £40 discount a year (£10 a quarter). Monthly direct debit allows customers to pay the same amount each month, spreading the cost over the year, rather than pay more in winter months. Or, NIE Energy customers can pay the actual amount of each bill by quarterly direct debit and save up to £26 a year (£6.50 a quarter).

Working with a range of organisations, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, NIE Energy customers can avail of a free benefit entitlement check which, to date, has identified unclaimed benefits of an average of £33 per week. For more information, visit www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk

NIE Energy is running a number of energy saving schemes to help customers. Funded through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, the company has an ‘insulation cashback’ scheme which gives up to £150 towards the cost of loft insulation and a further £150 towards cavity wall insulation. With half the heat lost through the walls and loft of a typical house, it is worth making sure your home is properly insulated.

NIE Energy also has subsidised energy saving lighting offers. For householders, there are subsidised energy saving bulbs in an assortment of wattages and sizes and for businesses and the agricultural sector, there are four lighting packs available at half the recommended retail price. For details, visit www.nieenergy.co.uk

To change to Keypad or direct debit, or to talk about paying for electricity, call the NIE Energy Customer Helpline Tel: 08457 455 455 (Home lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and on Saturday 9am to 1pm. Business lines are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm).


..ends..
[1] 3,300 KWh annual consumption, incl. VAT reduced from £522 to £496.
[2] 3,300 KWh annual consumption, incl. VAT. Exchange rate £1 = €1.16. Average of ESB urban and rural as of Oct 09 = £560. NIE Energy = £496.



Notes to editors:
• NIE Energy supplies 749,650 domestic and 43,700 business customers as of Aug 09.
• This reduction makes the average (3,300 KWh annual consumption, inc. VAT) household electricity bill £496.
• Economy 7 day rate, which is used in about 4% of homes, will also come down by 5% with the standing charge coming down by 11% and with no change in the cheaper night rate.

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