A spokesperson said existing customers “do not need to take any action” and will be contacted in due course
Electric Ireland has announced it’s withdrawing from the Northern Ireland domestic electricity market to focus on business customers.
The company is the third-largest supplier in Northern Ireland, with over 50,000 domestic customers.
In a statement, the Irish-owned company said: “Electric Ireland has completed a strategic review of our residential business in Northern Ireland.
“As a result of this review, we will be focusing exclusively on the business market and, over time, our intention is to no longer serve the residential market.
“Electric Ireland will continue to supply and support our residential customers during this transition.”
The company has not provided a timescale for the process.
But a spokesman for the firm, which is owned by ESB Group, said it would be working with other parties including the Utility Regulator, and with residential customers, to take a “managed approach”.
“During the process, Electric Ireland will continue to supply our c53,000 residential customers, equating to c6% of the market.
“We understand and appreciate that this news may be unsettling for some customers and so it is important to stress that there is no immediate change.
“There will be no interruption in supply to Electric Ireland customers and they do not need to take any action. Electric Ireland will contact them directly in due course.”
Electric Ireland accounts for around 35% of the business market in Northern Ireland.
The spokesman added: “Electric Ireland’s staff supporting residential customers in Northern Ireland have been briefed and there are no immediate job losses planned.
“We will continue to engage with and support staff and customers throughout this transition.”
Power NI and SSE Airtricity are the first and second-biggest suppliers of electricity to the domestic market here.