Workers Party representative Fiona McCarthy has claimed that despite enormous profits accumulated by energy companies, consumers in Northern Ireland are facing increases in fuel costs.

Ms McCarthy said electricity companies announced in December increases between 3.5% and 4% from mid-January - an unwelcome new year’s gift to consumers.

She said: "The reasons given for the increases are higher charges for maintaining the electricity systems and continued higher than previous wholesale energy costs. These companies should be meeting these costs out of the huge profits generated in the energy industry.

"The Workers Party has called for and continues to call for energy companies to be brought into public ownership so that the taxpayers can enjoy the benefits of lower energy costs."

Ms McCarthy said the huge profits from energy consumption that currently goes into the coffers of energy companies could then be used to maintain the energy infrastructure and be reinvested in green renewable energy sources.

"This approach would deliver a cleaner healthier energy source for consumers and the environment. It would also help to create sustainable well paid employment and a welcome economic boost to the local economy."

She added: The profits gained by large companies do not benefit the local community, but if the industry was in public ownership those employees would spend across their local communities. For every pound a public sector worker earns sixty pence of it is goes back into the local economy.

"Under existing energy prices people are struggling with energy bills and cannot afford to use appliances for cooking hot meals, or heating water for bathing and household cleaning. They don’t need the added burden of a 4% increase to contend with.

"It is time that the regulator and the government acted in the best interests of the citizens of Northern Ireland not large energy companies."