Irish green electricity company Airtricity said today it intends to create up to 50 jobs over three years in Northern Ireland as part of its growth strategy.
Speaking at the launch of Airtricity’s operation in Belfast today the company’s chief executive Dr Eddie O’Connor said Airtricity would offer wind generated electricity to small businesses at a five per cent discount to existing prices.
Airtricity estimates businesses can make an annual saving of up to £260 sterling in electricity bills by switching to green resources.
Key to this proposition is the removal of the requirement for customers leaving NIE to install metering equipment as announced by the British electricity regulator OFREG recently.
Dr O’Connor welcomed the removal of the metering system which he described as "clearly anti-competitive".
Sir Reg Empey the North’s Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment said Airtricity’s arrival in Northern Ireland is "good news for the energy market in Northern Ireland in particular for SMEs and supporters of renewable energy."
Dr O’Connor said Northern Ireland’s suitability for wind generated electricity is among the best in Europe and would allow Airtricity to compete directly with Northen Ireland Electricity.