· Scottish Power has announced price rises, 2% for gas and nearly 9% for electricity
As Britain has really started feeling the grip of winter, there was never a worse time to hear about rising energy costs and yet Scottish Power is the latest provider to reveal a significant price hike.
Giving its customers less than a week’s notice, its gas prices will rise by an average of two per cent and its electricity prices will increase by an average of 8.9 per cent for its 2.5 million customers. This will increase standard average dual fuel bill from £1305 to £1357.
The move follows hot on the heels of Big Six rivals Scottish & Southern and British Gas, who have also chosen to cash in on winter usage and put the prices up during December. EDF bucked the trend and vowed to freeze prices over the colder months, but it’s important to remember they kicked off the price rises back in August. E.ON and Npower could well be the next dominoes to fall, with energy companies historically following each other with cuts and hikes.
Lisa Greenfield, energy analyst at Confused.com, says: “. While the outlook is bleak, there are things that can be done to minimize the impact of these rises. Customers should use a comparison site to ensure they are on the best tariff for their circumstances and where possible opt for online tariffs and pay by direct debit and these are usually the cheapest
“For those who prefer to know what they are going to be paying, good value fixed rates are fast becoming extinct but there are a still a few out there worth grabbing. It is important customers don't suffer high prices in silence and shop around”
