Strabane families are in dire need as energy costs soar

PEOPLE in Strabane on lower incomes are “literally sitting in the cold” as energy costs continue to soar.

This week local community activists have also warned the situation is going to get worse in the coming weeks and months as yet more price hikes are predicted for the likes of gas and electricity.

Speaking from a community perspective, Aodhan Harkin from Fountain Street Community Development Association (FSCDA) and Ivan Barr from Melmount Community Forum groups both agree the situation for many people is already dire.

“For families on low incomes, single parents and even for families at home a lot, they’re already out of pocket,” Mr Harkin explained. “Gas prices are up, oil is up and electricity is up and even the cost of food is rising. That is taking its toll on everyone but for some people it really is a case of heating or eating. We are being contacted more and more by people who are asking for help. Wages and benefits haven’t gone up and when National Insurance goes up, the working poor are going to be even worse off.”

According to the Utility Regulator households across the North can expect to pay approximately £200 a month on average for their combined gas and electricity bills from April onwards.

On Tuesday Gas supplier Firmus announced its prices will increase by more than a third and similar hikes are expected for SSE Airtricity. The Consumer Council has also predicted that home heating oil will top £300 for 500 litres for the first time since 2013.

“The people in this area – the Head of the Town is one of the most deprived areas in the UK – are facing that choice of heating or eating,” Mr Harkin continued. “Some people, I know for a fact are literally sitting in the cold.

“As a community worker, I’m saying that they need help. Someone has to intervene,” Mr Harkin said. “In an area like this, I would be afraid that unless there is intervention, things are going to get a lot worse for so many people.”

One local woman the Chronicle spoke to criticised recent gas prices rises as “mad.”

“I used to spend about £40 a month on gas,” said the SSE Airtricity customer, who preferred not to be named. “But it has started costing me between £70 and £80 a month and the thing is, I’m very rarely in the house.

“I switched over to gas because I thought it would be good in the long run but the prices have gone mad at the moment.”

It has been reported that low gas stocks, reduced Russian supplies and concerns about the Ukraine situation are all combining to keep European gas prices high.

“The concern at the moment is that people are already in a bad place because the cost of living has already gone up,” Ivan Barr from Melmount suggested. “When Gas to the West came to Strabane, should it not have been a dual system with oil?

“Gas was pushed on people because the Housing Executive said it wouldn’t service the oil burners if they were kept on. At the minute, we’re seeing people are already struggling and not only that, they are concerned about future prices hikes across the board. Something has to be done,” he added.