Almost half of NI homes have never changed from Power NI

Almost half of household electricity customers in Northern Ireland have never switched from the largest supplier, Power NI.

That’s according to the Utility Regulator, which has published data on so-called “sticky customers” for the first time.

Last year saw a drop in the number of people switching suppliers across electricity and gas.

The Utility Regulator has previously urged more customers to shop around for the best deal.

Its annual monitoring report provides an insight into the local energy market.

Of the 848,983 domestic connections in Northern Ireland, 49% have never switched from the incumbent, Power NI.

The supplier is the only one in Northern Ireland that is regulated, meaning its prices are directly controlled by the Utility Regulator.

It announced last week that it would be putting prices up by 4%.

More than 93,000 households switched electricity supplier in 2024, which is down from the previous year.

However, the overall reduction in switching is a sign that the markets are stabilising after a number of volatile years.

The regulator has said that is supported in the pricing data, which shows that, for most customers, prices have reduced.

The Utility Regulator also said the number of complaints made by electricity customers remained the same at more than 30,000.

Complaints from gas customers rose in 2024, with the most common complaints relating to bills, payments, and customer service.