• 1533 GWh of energy supplied last year – enough to power Stormont for almost 100 years
• Airtricity becomes Northern Ireland’s No.1 business energy provider
Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing energy provider, has switched over 100,000 homes and businesses, meaning more energy users across the country are now benefiting from better energy value and enjoying a better energy future.
The company, owned by the FTSE listed and Perth, Scotland, based SSE plc, now supplies 85,000 homes across Northern Ireland with better value electricity, as well as 15,000 businesses. Airtricity supplied a total of 1533 GWh of electricity last year to power its 100,000 customers. In addition, Airtricity has become the No.1 business energy provider in Northern Ireland in terms of energy load, making the company the biggest single supplier to the Northern Ireland public and private sectors.
Airtricity Managing Director, Stephen Wheeler said: “Two years after Airtricity entered the domestic market for electricity and ten years after the company began trading competitively in Northern Ireland, I am delighted to announce that we have now switched 100,000 customers. This success cements Airtricity as a major energy player in the Northern Ireland economy and affirms our position as the leading driver of competition in the country’s energy market."
“Our continued success in the domestic electricity market means that more and more customers who switch from Power NI to Airtricity are enjoying the reassurance of better value energy from a trusted energy provider. Increased pressure on home finances means that our growing number of customers appreciates the importance of making savings on household bills and that switching to Airtricity is an easy and simple way to save money."
“Our success in the domestic energy market is reflected also in our success in the commercial market. As well as achieving the 100,000 customer landmark, Airtricity has for the first time become the largest supplier to the commercial market in Northern Ireland, recording our largest-ever load share and beating all other commercial energy providers in the country. New figures published by the Utility Regulator show that Airtricity grew its total non domestic consumption in the last quarter of 2011 to 361GWh. This grows Airtricity’s commercial market share to No.1 from No.4 in the less than four years since our parent company SSE acquired the business in 2008."
“As a company that proudly employs over 150 staff directly and indirectly to grow our business in Northern Ireland we’re committed to delivering real value in energy supply to homes and businesses across Northern Ireland.”
The Consumer Council has welcomed the impact of increased competition in the energy market. Antoinette McKeown, CEO, of the Consumer Council said: “The Consumer Council supports competition in the energy market as this can only benefit consumers. Competition is vital as long as it brings with it the best service, choice and price for the consumer."
“The Consumer Council will continue to engage with all energy suppliers to ensure the consumer voice is brought directly to the providers of the energy market, such as Airtricity. Our aim, through our ongoing engagement with energy providers, is to ensure that competition continues to bring positive benefits for consumers in Northern Ireland.”
