Poor tenants will suffer from electricity price hike

NIHE says a combination of another harsh winter and the price hike will leave many households cold.

A spokesman explained: “This substantial increase will create real problems for tenants with low incomes who are trying to budget their bills. It is being introduced at a time when householders have no option but to use more electricity as winter approaches.

“If there is a repeat of last year’s harsh winter, the Housing Executive would have real concerns for the welfare of many of our tenants.

“Last winter demonstrated that many elderly and vulnerable people could not afford to heat their homes, both those with electric heating and those, who after paying other household bills, had insufficient funds to buy other fuels. This resulted in substantial damage to homes and many households being left without heating.

“This massive electricity increase, on top of escalating gas and oil price rises is a severe blow and will have a major impact on the level of fuel poverty.”