Electricity, water and sewage prices set to rise

Electricity, water and sewage prices on the Isle of Man are set to rise from April.

There will be a 2.9% rise for water and sewage - which sits at the September inflation rate, and a 1.5% increase for electricity.

The island's utilities provider said this means that a typical domestic electricity customer using 2,700kWh per year will pay £937, an annual increase of £14.

John Wannenburgh, chairman of Manx Utilities said: "Through careful financial control and disciplined management, the Board has been able to limit this year's electricity tariff update from the CPI‑linked 2.9% to a more manageable 1.5%."

Wannenburgh added: "We will continue to review tariffs responsibly, always mindful that we operate as a community utility serving households and businesses across the island."

The utilities firm said it "recognises that energy costs in recent years have placed real pressure on households and businesses."

During the global energy crisis, it said it absorbed about £40m of exceptional wholesale costs rather than passing them directly through to bills.

Although market prices have eased from their peak, they remain above pre‑crisis levels, it said.

But as most of the Isle of Man's electricity is generated using natural gas, wholesale energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties continue to influence the cost of supplying power to the island.

About 75% of natural gas requirements for 2026/27 have already been secured as Manx Utilities said it forward-buys natural gas to "manage risk and smooth fluctuations".

The move will mean that Manx Utilities' electricity tarrifs will be above the new Default Tariff Cap from April, however, it said it expected electricity charges to remain "broadly in line with average UK levels".

The increase "helps ensure essential services remain reliable and financially sustainable," it added.