Electricity charge soars by £40

05/07/11

By Kevin Dixon

ScottishPower is to charge its electricity customers an additional £40 a year for receiving the service.

The charge to cover fixed costs - similar to a telephone line rental charge - will increase from £70 to £110, the supplier said.

The hike is part of a 10 per cent price rise for ScottishPower's electricity customers announced last month. The increase comes into effect in August.

ScottishPower's gas customers are also being hit in the pocket after a 19 per cent rise in bills, with the energy giant blaming an increase in the wholesale price of gas.

Previously, the average annual bill for an electricity-only customer paying by direct debit, including standing charge and consumption, was £443.80. From August 1, this will increase by almost £50 to £491.84.

Of this, £40 represents the increase to the standing charge.