Gas network areas in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's natural gas network is split into three areas. Which suppliers you can choose, and the prices you pay, depend on which one you're in.
The three gas areas
- Greater Belfast: the network is run by Phoenix Natural Gas.
- The Ten Towns: the network is run by firmus energy.
- The West (Gas to the West): the network is run by SGN Natural Gas.
Your gas bill shows which area you're in.
Which gas suppliers can I choose?
- Greater Belfast: firmus energy or SSE Airtricity. Larne is included in firmus energy's Greater Belfast tariffs.
- The Ten Towns: firmus energy.
- The West: SSE Airtricity.
Where there's only one supplier, you can still save by choosing a different tariff or way of paying, such as Direct Debit or pay as you go.
Is gas available at my address?
Not every street is connected, even inside a gas area. The network company for your area can tell you whether your home can be connected, and what's involved.
How gas is charged
Your meter measures gas in cubic metres, but your bill converts it to kWh, and tariffs are priced per kWh. Some tariffs charge a higher rate for the first units you use and a lower rate after that. Our comparison works it out for your yearly usage.
Questions, answered
Can I switch gas supplier in the Ten Towns or the West?
At the moment each of these areas has one supplier (firmus energy in the Ten Towns, SSE Airtricity in the West), so you can't change supplier there, but you may save by changing tariff or how you pay.
Where do I find my gas usage?
On your gas bill or annual statement, shown in kWh. Pay-as-you-go customers get an annual statement of top-ups and usage.
Sources
Facts checked 19 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm with the supplier.