Sinn Féin Energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan MLA has said that there is no surprise at the announcement that Airtricity is to follow Power NI and raise their electricity prices by 17.8%.

Mr Flanagan said: "This announcement does not come as any surprise to me.

"Once again, we see the notion that competition, and simply changing supplier, is the solution to all our woes being blown out of the water.

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"Clarity needs to be provided on why Airtricity has taken a decision to implement the same rate of price hike as Power NI and many people will feel that the so-called competition we have is wholly ineffective.

"The fact that Airtricity have attempted to bury this negative story on a Friday afternoon, similarly to how they dealt with their recent gas price increase, even after having reassured me they would never do so again, demonstrates the contempt in which they hold their customers.

"Many households are facing a fixed or even a falling income and price hikes of this scale will have a deeply negative impact on the quality of lives of many of our most deprived citizens."

(CD/IT)