The Northern Ireland gas networks
Northern Ireland has no single gas grid. It has three separate networks, each owned by a different company, each covering a different part of the region. Here is who owns the pipes where you live, who to call for a gas leak, and the catch most people miss: in two of the three areas you cannot switch gas supplier.
Three networks, three flames. Tap one to open its guide.
Three networks, one region
Who owns the gas pipes in Northern Ireland
Each network owns and maintains the pipes in its own area and connects new properties. None of them sells you gas. Click through for the full guide on each.
Phoenix
Largest network
Phoenix Energy
Greater Belfast network
Owns and operates the gas distribution network across Greater Belfast, Lisburn, Larne and East Down. Gas is available to over 350,000 properties, with over 250,000 connected. Owned by the CK Group consortium.
Read the full guide
firmus
Ten Towns
firmus energy
Ten Towns network
Owns and operates the "Ten Towns" gas network covering towns from Derry/Londonderry across to Antrim and south to Newry. Around 76,000 households are on the network. Owned by Equitix funds.
Read the full guide
SGN
The west
SGN Natural Gas
Gas to the West network
Part of the SGN Group, operating as Evolve. Owns and operates the newest network, the "Gas to the West" pipeline serving eight towns in the west of Northern Ireland under licence from the Utility Regulator.
Read the full guide3
Separate gas networks in NI
0800 002 001
NI gas emergency (24h, free)
1996
Year gas reached NI homes
5%
VAT on domestic gas
In short: Northern Ireland's gas pipes belong to three companies, split by area. Phoenix Energy covers Greater Belfast and Larne, firmus energy covers the "Ten Towns", and SGN Natural Gas covers the west. For any gas leak, call the NI Gas Emergency Service on 0800 002 001, free and 24 hours. The Great Britain "0800 111 999" number is not the one promoted here. The Utility Regulator regulates the market, not Ofgem.
Natural gas is a relatively recent arrival in Northern Ireland. The first homes in Greater Belfast were connected in 1996, and the network is still being extended westward. It is not available everywhere, and unlike electricity, in most of the region you cannot choose your gas supplier because only one company sells gas on your network. This hub explains who owns the pipes, who supplies the gas, and what you can actually control.
The catch most people miss
Where you can, and cannot, switch gas supplier
The pipes are one thing, the gas you buy is another. In Northern Ireland your choice of gas supplier depends entirely on which network area you live in.
| Network area | Network owner | Gas supplier(s) | Can you switch? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Belfast | Phoenix Energy | firmus energy, SSE Airtricity | Yes (two suppliers) |
| Ten Towns | firmus energy | firmus energy | No (one supplier) |
| The West (Gas to the West) | SGN Natural Gas | SSE Airtricity | No (one supplier) |
To check current prices and whether a switch is open in your area, the independent Consumer Council publishes free gas price comparison tables.
Find the right contact
Who do I call about gas in Northern Ireland?
Pick what is happening, and the tool tells you instantly who is responsible. For a leak, the answer is always the same free number.
Contact
| Situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| I smell gas or suspect a leak | NI Gas Emergency Service — Leave the building and call 0800 002 001, free, 24 hours, every day. It works on every NI gas network, whoever your supplier is. |
| I want a new gas connection | Your gas network — Apply to the network that covers your area: Phoenix Energy, firmus energy or SGN Natural Gas. |
| My meter or keypad is faulty | Your gas supplier — Contact the supplier who sends your bill. They handle metering and top-up keypads. |
| I want to switch or compare prices | Depends on your area — In Greater Belfast you can choose firmus energy or SSE Airtricity. In the Ten Towns and the West there is currently only one gas supplier, so you cannot switch. |
| My gas bill is too high | Your gas supplier — Talk to your supplier about tariffs and payment plans. Network charges are fixed for everyone on your network. |
If you smell gas
NI Gas Emergency Service: 0800 002 001
Free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It works on every Northern Ireland gas network, whoever your supplier is. If you smell gas, leave the building, do not switch anything electrical on or off, open doors and windows, and call from outside.
Call 0800 002 001Northern Ireland gas FAQ
The Selectra expert answers your questions
Call the NI Gas Emergency Service on 0800 002 001. It is free, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and works on every Northern Ireland gas network whoever your supplier is. Leave the building first, do not operate electrical switches, and call from outside.
It depends on your area. Phoenix Energy owns the network in Greater Belfast, Lisburn, Larne and East Down. firmus energy owns the "Ten Towns" network, stretching from Derry/Londonderry across to Antrim and south to Newry. SGN Natural Gas owns the "Gas to the West" network in eight towns in the west.
Only in some areas. In Greater Belfast you can choose between firmus energy and SSE Airtricity. In the Ten Towns and the West, there is currently only one gas supplier on the network, so you cannot switch. Switching availability depends entirely on your network area.
The Utility Regulator (the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation), not Ofgem. It licenses the gas networks, regulates the charges they can make, and oversees the market. Ofgem only covers England, Scotland and Wales.
No. Natural gas only arrived in Northern Ireland in 1996 and the network is still being extended. Many areas, especially rural ones, have no gas network at all. Where there is no gas, homes typically use other fuels for heating.
Know your network
Find the company behind your gas pipes
Read the full guide for the network that covers your area, and learn exactly what it does, what it does not, and how it is paid.