// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Rising energy costs add to cost of living for Northern Ireland's consumers
Households across Northern Ireland face increasing pressure on the cost of living as energy price hikes have come into effect.
Northern Ireland's largest provider of natural gas, SSE Airtricity, increased its prices by almost 19% on Thursday for its 200,000 domestic and small business customers.
That means the annual gas bill of a typical household in the greater Belfast and west gas network areas will increase by almost £172.
The company said "unprecedented levels of volatility in global energy markets and higher wholesale gas prices" had led to the price rise.
Wholesale gas prices in the UK have effectively doubled since the US and Israel began their attack on Iran.
Keeping the house warm is particularly important for parents with young children and babies.
Lucy Kells is a mum of two in east Belfast on maternity leave.
She said she expects the winter months to be difficult because "most people are going to have to have the heating on, especially if you've young kids in the house".
"There's no escaping it - everything feels more expensive and it is more expensive."
Lucy Kells is a mum of two in east Belfast on maternity leave