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| Energy watchdog defends comment | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The utility regulator is to defend his comments that the new hikes in electricity and gas bills were justified. | |
| Iain Osborne will give evidence to members of the Enterprise Trade and Industry committee at Stormont later. | |
| Committee member Alasdair McDonnell said there were serious economic and industrial consequences to the rises. | |
| "It is causing an awful lot of stress and worry, and people will be choosing between heating and eating." | |
| Electricity charges will rise by a third, while gas bills are set to go up by almost a fifth. | Electricity charges will rise by a third, while gas bills are set to go up by almost a fifth. |
| The increases have been blamed on the cost of wholesale fuel. | The increases have been blamed on the cost of wholesale fuel. |
| The rise in electricity bills, set to add almost £150 to the average bill follows a 14% increase in July, while the 19.2% rise in Phoenix gas prices comes after a 28% increase just four months ago. | The rise in electricity bills, set to add almost £150 to the average bill follows a 14% increase in July, while the 19.2% rise in Phoenix gas prices comes after a 28% increase just four months ago. |
| Consumer Council spokeswoman Eleanor Gill said although they accepted bills must go up to cover rising costs of wholesale energy, "these price rises are truly shocking for consumers and people will struggle to cope". | Consumer Council spokeswoman Eleanor Gill said although they accepted bills must go up to cover rising costs of wholesale energy, "these price rises are truly shocking for consumers and people will struggle to cope". |
| However, Mr Osborne said: "We don't approve proposals for price rises without extensive scrutiny. | However, Mr Osborne said: "We don't approve proposals for price rises without extensive scrutiny. |
| "We spend a considerable amount of time and apply our expertise to make sure that the level of the increase is justified." | "We spend a considerable amount of time and apply our expertise to make sure that the level of the increase is justified." |