Share Energy, a Northern Ireland electricity supplier, will increase its charges by 12.6% as the energy sector grapples with sustained market turbulence. The price rise follows similar increases announced by competitors across the region and reflects the broader strain on suppliers from volatile wholesale costs and geopolitical instability.
The company, which entered Northern Ireland's electricity market in 2004, cited "exceptional volatility" stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and instability in the Middle East as the primary drivers of the increase. According to local reporting, the new prices will take effect on 1 October 2026, with the adjustment estimated to add approximately £129 annually to a typical household's bill.
Damian Wilson, chief executive of Share Energy, stated that the decision reflects the cumulative pressure on the business after two years of successive external shocks to the energy market.
"Throughout that period, we've worked hard to shield our customers from the full impact, absorbing costs where we could and delaying increases for as long as it was responsible to do so. Unfortunately, we have now reached the point where the combined impact of wholesale energy costs and regulated network and system costs is simply too significant for us to continue absorbing."
Share Energy serves 41,092 customers across Northern Ireland, comprising 40,675 domestic accounts and 417 commercial connections. The company is owned by local business people with extensive experience in the renewable electricity sector and has committed to sharing half of its profits with customers.
How does this compare to other suppliers?
Share Energy is not alone in raising prices. SSE Airtricity announced a 19% increase in gas prices from 1 October for 200,000 customers, while Firmus Energy introduced increases of 8.98% for Ten Towns and 12.5% for Greater Belfast, effective from October 2026. Budget Energy has also announced a 9.5% price increase for variable tariff customers. These moves underscore the sector-wide pressure from elevated wholesale energy costs and market instability.
What are the current tariff rates?
Share Energy's standard 24-hour tariff is currently listed at 31.96p per kWh with a 13.33p daily standing charge. The company also offers a dedicated electric vehicle tariff at 32.04p per kWh during daytime hours and 15.56p per kWh during night-time, with the same 13.33p daily standing charge. These rates reflect the supplier's positioning within a broader market where domestic electricity unit rates across Northern Ireland currently range from 29.830p to 42.010p per kWh including VAT.
What support is available to customers?
Share Energy has committed to contacting all affected customers directly with details of the new prices. The company will also offer targeted support to households that may face difficulty meeting their bills following the increase. Wilson indicated that the company will monitor wholesale energy costs and will "look to reflect that in the prices our customers pay" should those costs decline in future.
What is the broader context?
This marks Share Energy's second price adjustment in 2026. The company implemented its first increase from 1 April 2026, which was described as its inaugural price rise since launching in Northern Ireland in 2024. The succession of increases reflects the sustained pressure on suppliers from global energy market dynamics, with the sector calling for structural solutions to reduce over-reliance on gas-based generation.
Wilson has called on the government to address the Northern Ireland electricity sector's structural dependence on gas, arguing that the current market structure leaves suppliers and customers vulnerable to external shocks. The company's approach of absorbing costs for as long as possible before passing increases to customers reflects a strategy adopted across the sector as suppliers attempt to balance commercial viability with customer protection during a period of sustained market stress.
Key Facts
- Share Energy's 12.6% price increase takes effect on 1 October 2026, adding approximately £129 to typical annual bills
- The rise affects 40,675 domestic customers and 417 commercial accounts across Northern Ireland
- Multiple suppliers have announced increases in recent months, with SSE Airtricity raising gas prices by 19% and Firmus Energy implementing increases of 8.98% to 12.5%
- Share Energy's current standard tariff stands at 31.96p per kWh with a 13.33p daily standing charge
- The company has committed to offering support to customers facing payment difficulties and will adjust prices downward if wholesale costs decline
