'A lot of pressure' - SSE Airtricity to increase gas prices by 19%

Here is a story making headlines in the economy: 'A lot of pressure' - SSE Airtricity to increase gas prices by 19%Image caption, Restaurant owner Glenn Davis said energy price rises were putting a lot of pressure on small businessesByLuke Sproule and John Campbell, Economics and business editor, News NIPublished28 August 2026Northern Ireland's largest provider of natural gas, SSE Airtricity, is to increase its prices by almost 19% from 1 October for its 200,000 domestic and small business customers. It means the annual gas bill of a typical household in the greater Belfast and west gas network areas will increase by almost £172. The company said "unprecedented levels of volatility in global energy markets and higher wholesale gas prices" had led to the price rise.

Wholesale gas prices in the UK have effectively doubled since the US and Israel began their attack on Iran. Colin Broomfield from the Utility Regulator said the increase would be "difficult news for many households and small businesses, particularly at a time when wider cost pressures remain a concern". Glenn Davis owns The Upper Crust restaurant in the centre of Larne, along with his wife.

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He said energy price rises were putting a lot of pressure on small businesses. "We are a daytime restaurant running six days a week and our gas bill is already sitting at about £400. "We are also paying about £500 a week electric, so between the two it is getting hard to contend with," he said.

"It is a tough environment, I'm in the trade 30 years and this is as tough as it's been. "All these rises are putting a lot of pressure on business in general but for small businesses and high street businesses it is just putting more and more pressure on. "Image caption, Gawn Graham said the UK government needed to drill for oil and gas in the North SeaGawn Graham, who was enjoying a coffee at The Upper Crust, said the UK government needed to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea.

"Look after your own energy first, get the off-sea oil and gas coming into Britain," he said. "We are not really seeing the benefit of any of the money which Stormont says they are going to send to us. "Image caption, Isobel Russell said she felt "a lot of pressure" as she lives alone Isobel Russell from Larne said the prices put "a lot of pressure" on her because she lives alone and her husband is in a care home.

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"I have to put most of his money into the care home, which doesn't leave me with a lot. "But I still have to pay what everybody else is paying for my energy costs. "She also said drilling should be expanded in the North Sea and that there should be more support from Stormont for people struggling.

"They're not giving us much support at the minute are they? I think they could do a lot more," she said. A Stormont scheme which will give eligible households a £100 voucher towards home heating oil costs will open for applications next month.

Meanwhile, a separate scheme will give all households around £50 off their electricity bills in October.

Financial markets are tracking the development closely as investors assess the likely impact.