According to data released by the Utility Regulator, nearly half of electricity customers in Northern Ireland have not changed their supplier from Power NI. Specifically, 49% of household customers have never switched suppliers, while only 28% have done so in the last three years. This report marks the first time the regulator has provided insights on what it refers to as “sticky customers.”
In its annual monitoring report, the Utility Regulator noted that, of the 848,983 domestic electricity connections in Northern Ireland, Power NI remains the only regulated supplier, with prices set directly by the regulator. Recently, Power NI announced a price increase of 4%.
In 2024, over 93,000 households switched their electricity supplier, indicating a decrease from the previous year. Nonetheless, the drop in switching may reflect a market stabilization after a series of volatile years, as per the regulator’s assessment. Pricing data suggests that, for the majority of customers, prices have generally decreased.
Furthermore, the Utility Regulator reported that the number of complaints from electricity customers has remained stable at over 30,000. In contrast, complaints from gas customers have increased, with many of the issues raised concerning billing, payments, and customer service.
The regulator has previously encouraged consumers to consider different options to secure better deals in the marketplace. However, the recent trends in supplier switching raise questions about customer engagement in the energy sector and the broader implications for competition among suppliers in Northern Ireland.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd07e3p1j4lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss