What could a regular family afford with 55 pounds a week? According to the latest Consumer Council research, that’s all that’s left for Northern Ireland’s lowest earning households after spending on basics, such as food, rent, energy and transport.
The data, based on the NI Household Expenditure Tracker for Quarter 1 2025 (January to March), reveals that almost a quarter (23.4%) of their income is swallowed by food costs alone, with housing, electricity, gas, and other fuels claiming another 12.7%.
Share Energy, the fastest-growing electricity provider in the Province, says it is possible to save on energy bills right away by switching energy providers, particularly with the latest tariff increases. For example, Power NI has announced a 4% increase in their residential unit price, starting in October.
“Every penny counts, especially as winter approaches and households face rising costs for lighting and heating,” says Damian Wilson, CEO of Share Energy. “The reality is that many families are paying far more than they need to for their energy. Often, they either don’t realise just how big the price gap can be between providers, or they assume switching is complicated. It isn’t — and the savings can be substantial, depending on their current tariff and usage.”
Households can check their savings instantly using the Consumer Council’s online electricity price comparison tool.
Share Energy currently offers Northern Ireland’s lowest standard rate electricity tariff at 25.29p per kWh with a standing charge of 13.33p per day. By comparison, Power NI’s current rate is 30.14p per kWh — meaning households could save simply by switching.
The energy provider also offers a Refer-a-Friend scheme to help customers save even more on their utility bills, rewarding both the customer and their friend with a £15 credit each time. “There’s no limit to how often people can use the referral system,” says Damian. “In fact, one of our customers has earned nearly £1,000 off their energy bills just by sharing it.”
And switching doesn’t have to be another job on the family’s weekly worry list. With a two-minute sign-up process, a step-by-step guide, and a friendly, local customer service team ready to help, Share Energy makes the process easy. As all electricity providers use the same network, switching doesn’t affect reliability or service.
“Over 20,000 people have already signed up to Share Energy. Our mission is simple: help people pay less for electricity so there’s a bit more left in the bank by Friday — for the things that really matter, like family time, leisure, or just peace of mind,” Damian adds.