FIRMUS Energy is putting gas prices up by 38% from December 3 for its customers in Derry.
The company said rising global energy prices has “forced their hand” to put prices up for the third time this year.
Firmus gas prices increased by 35% in October and by 18% earlier in the year.
The move will affect about 55,000 customers in the Ten Towns area, which includes Derry, Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Craigavon and Newry.
The Consumer Council said the increase would mean the annual bill of a typical household will rise by about £268 a year – or £255 a year for those with a prepayment meter.
Firmus customers in Greater Belfast and in the Gas to the West network area will not be affected by the tariff change.
Firmus chairman Dr David Dobbin said: “This is a not a Firmus issue but a challenge faced by every local and national supplier of gas and electricity all of whom, sooner or later, will have to further increase their prices to meet the huge upsurges which have taken place in wholesale energy costs.
“We know this is an unwelcome increase, which will have a disproportionate effect on those of our customers who are the most vulnerable.”
Firmus said it would be introducing a support scheme to offer targeted help to those most in need, which would open at about the same time as the increase takes effect.
The Utility Regulator, which regulates the suppliers in the market, had warned that substantial rises in the price of gas were coming.
Its chief executive John French said: “Unfortunately over the last six months we have seen unparalleled increases in the cost of wholesale energy at a global level.
“It is unclear how long these higher global prices will last but, increasingly, market analysts are talking about higher wholesale prices for the next 18 to 36 months.
“However if wholesale prices begin to reduce our system of regulation in Northern Ireland allows us to act to make sure that reductions are fully passed onto consumers as quickly as possible.”
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