By Lois Avery
EDF Energy will be raising electricity prices by 2.6 per cent for standard tariff customers from October.
In an announcement today (31 August), the energy supplier told customers that it is putting up prices in a bid to combat ‘increases in distribution and transmission costs’
Although fixed price products and gas prices will not be affected, customers who receive their electricity through a standard meter with EDF Energy will be paying up to £1 more every month.
Regions affected by the price hike will be Eastern, East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, North Wales, South Wales, North Scotland, South Scotland, Southern and Yorkshire, in addition to some customers in London, South East and South West.
Blaming the escalating costs of distribution and transmission, Martin Lawrence, managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply said: “We have been absorbing these costs for many months, but we now have to pass on some of the resulting rise to our customers.
“EDF Energy is unique in having been among the cheapest two major suppliers for Standard Dual Fuel tariffs consistently over the last two years, which reflects our enduring commitment to offering competitive prices to our customers”.
The energy company said the cost of distribution and transmission has increased 16 per cent since its last price change in March 2009 and that these costs represented a fifth of customers’ bills.
Customers on low incomes who will be affected by the rise will be offered its Energy Assist product and will receive an additional credit of £12 this year to cover the increase.
Standard tariff customers will also be offered the Energy Discount Plan, which will enable them to maintain prices at today’s levels before the rise comes into effect on 1 October .
