据RTE 9月8日消息，Firmus Energy表示，将从10月起将北爱尔兰大部分地区的天然气价格上调35.15%。
该公司表示很遗憾宣布这一消息，并将其归咎于全球天然气批发价格的大幅上涨。
Firmus的关税变化将影响“十大城镇”网络区域，其中包括Antrim、Armagh、Ballymena、Ballymoney、Banbridge、Coleraine、Craigavon、Limavady、Derry、Newry以及周边地区的其他25个多的城镇和村庄.
消费者委员会表示，这一增长意味着，一个拥有信用表的典型家庭每年的燃气费将增加约 182英镑（211欧元）。
另一家供应商SSE Airtricity上周宣布，其天然气价格将从10月份起上调21.8%。
此前，公用事业监管机构John French发出警告，称北爱尔兰家庭和企业今年冬天面临大幅上涨的燃气费。
Firmus Energy董事总经理Michael Scott说：“我们很抱歉不得不宣布这一消息，因为我们最不想做的就是提高价格。
然而，鉴于在全球市场上购买天然气的成本大幅增加，这是不可避免的，因为这些成本完全超出了我们的控制范围。
随着世界开始重新开放，这导致对天然气的需求增加，并以惊人的速度推高价格。随着恢复正常，我们预计价格将再次开始稳定。 ”
尽管预计未来几周将公布一项有关关税的公告，但大贝尔法斯特地区的客户不会受到此次价格上涨的影响。
Firmus为北爱尔兰超过108,000名客户提供服务。
消费者委员会基础设施和可持续发展主管Peter McClenaghan说：“Firmus Energy 价格上涨的规模将震惊消费者，使家庭预算更具挑战性，尤其是当消费者无法选择更换供应商，这一点尤为困难。”
“随着电力、食品杂货和燃料成本的上涨，这一增长对处于弱势的消费者来说尤其是个坏消息，因为这将与休假计划的结束、普遍信贷的取消和冬季的开始相吻合。”
祝精燕 摘译自 RTE
原文如下：
NI natural gas supplier Firmus Energy to hike prices by 35%
Firmus Energy has said it will increase its natural gas prices across much of Northern Ireland by 35.15% from October.
The company said it was sorry to make the announcement, which it blamed align="justify"> The change in tariff by Firmus will affect the "Ten Towns" network area, which includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Limavady, Derry, Newry, and more than 25 other towns and villages in the surrounding areas.
The Consumer Council has said the increase means the yearly gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will rise by about £182 (€211).
Another supplier, SSE Airtricity, announced last week that it would increase its natural gas prices by 21.8% from October.
It followed a warning from utility regulator John French that Northern Ireland households and businesses were facing substantially higher gas bills this winter.
Michael Scott, managing director of Firmus Energy, said: "We are very sorry to have to make this announcement as the last thing we want is to have to increase our prices.
"However, given the massive increases in the cost of purchasing natural gas align="justify"> "With the world starting to reopen again, following the Covid-19 restrictions, this is leading to increased demand for natural gas and that has been driving the prices up at alarming rates. As normality returns, we expect prices to begin to stabilise again."
Customers in the Greater Belfast area are not affected by this price rise, although an announcement regarding tariffs there is expected in the coming weeks.
Firmus supplies more than 108,000 customers in Northern Ireland.
Peter McClenaghan, director of infrastructure and sustainability at the Consumer Council, said: "The size of the Firmus Energy price increase will shock consumers, make household budgeting more challenging, and is particularly difficult as consumers have no option to switch supplier.
"This increase follows rises in electricity, grocery and fuel costs and is particularly bad news for consumers in vulnerable situations as it will coincide with the end of the furlough scheme, the removal of the Universal Credit uplift, and the start of winter."
