Rising gas: Irish consumers may well be facing further price hikes with the increasing likelihood that Bord Gais will apply to the energy regulator for a price hike of 17 to 19 per cent as early as July this year.

With gas prices rising sharply over the past year, British Gas customers who were already dealt a 15 per cent rise in their energy bills in January are also facing the possibility of further increases given the poor performances by Centrica, the company behind British Gas, this month.