Taking control of business and domestic gas bills is at the heart of a unique new online account management service, launched by a Northern Ireland natural gas supplier.

Firmus Energy, which provides gas to 12 towns and cities across the province, has said its new system is a first for Northern Ireland.

General Manager Mark Prentice said: "Even though we are one of the youngest energy utilities in Northern Ireland, we believe we are the first in the province to offer both business and domestic customers a complete online meter reading, bill management and payment service.

"We have completely revamped our website to make it as user friendly as possible and to give our customers and visitors to the site easy access to the features in which they are most interested."

At a time when most people want to take as much control as possible of their energy bills, Mr Prentice said the new service would allow customers to easily monitor how much they are spending on gas and pay their bills at the touch of a button.

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"The facility offers customers the opportunity view their last bill, plus the previous 12 months invoices which will allow them to easily compare their gas bills over the last year and will go some way into helping them budget their fuel costs," he said.

Mr Prentice continued: "As many customers tell us that estimated bills aren't as accurate as they would like, a further advantage of the online account management service is that it will now enable gas users to input their meter readings which will provide them with a precise costing.

"This online service does not replace the traditional gas bills sent though the post, but is an additional service we will provide to assist our customers. This service, which is now up and running, will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he added.

Brian Irwin, Chairman of local company Irwin's Bakery said: "This new service will allow us to monitor our bills and check what we are spending on a monthly basis as well as being able to easily compare it against previous months.

"This is in line with our own significant investment in industry best practice, and ERP system (Lawson Software’s QuickStep Food and Beverage) through which we control and monitor all aspects of our operation business, from stock control, financial procedures, production and delivery," he added.

(PR/JM)