The Utility Regulator has published its Annual Retail Energy Market Monitoring report for 2025, providing an overview of Northern Ireland’s retail electricity and gas markets.
The Annual Retail Energy Market Monitoring report is part of a series of Utility Regulator publications that provide information on Northern Ireland’s retail energy market. The Retail Energy Market Monitoring framework requires network companies and suppliers to submit data on a range of indicators, helping to build understanding of market activity and support the protection of consumer interests.
The report brings together information collected through the Retail Energy Market Monitoring framework and summarises data for the 2025 calendar year, covering Quarter 1 to Quarter 4. It includes information on market shares, switching, prices and complaints, helping to improve transparency and support regulatory decision-making in the interests of consumers.
The 2025 report shows continued supplier dominance in parts of the electricity market, increased switching activity across electricity and gas, changes in gas prices during the year, and differing trends in electricity and gas complaints.
Key findings:
- Power NI retained its dominant position in the electricity market, with 60.3% of connections in 2025 compared with 59.9% in 2024.
- Gas switching reached an all-time high in Northern Ireland during 2025, rising by 300% compared with 2024, this is largely due to new customer offers in the market.
- Electricity switching also increased during 2025, rising by 19.9% compared with 2024.
- The Northern Ireland domestic electricity unit price remained stable at 30.6p/kWh in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 of 2025.
- The Northern Ireland domestic gas unit price fell from 9p/kWh in Semester 1 to 8.6p/kWh in Semester 2, bringing the Northern Ireland gas price below Ireland and the European Union median.
- In the industrial and commercial electricity market, 71.3% of connections were in the ‘very small’ connection category. Prices for this category were below Great Britain but above Ireland throughout 2025.
- In the industrial and commercial gas market, approximately 86% of connections were in the ‘very small’ category. In Semester 1, the Northern Ireland price was above the UK, Ireland and the European Union median. In Semester 2, it was below the UK but remained above Ireland and the European Union median.
- Electricity complaints increased from 30,672 in 2024 to 44,446 in 2025. The most common electricity supplier complaints related to bills, payments and accounts, customer service, and prepayment meter issues.
- Gas complaints decreased from 63,896 in 2024 to 52,895 in 2025. The most common gas supplier complaints related to bills, payments and accounts, prepayment meter issues, and customer service.
Copies of all documents can be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.