Cut Your Bills

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has increased its electricity and gas prices by 14.2% and 15.8% respectively, effective from 1 April.

According to switching service uSwitch, the increase in prices equate to SSE customers paying £50 more per year for electricity and £85 more for gas. The average annual fuel bill for an SSE customer will now be £1,006, which remains the cheapest in the UK.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, energy supply director of SSE, said: Energy supply in the UK is changing dramatically, with companies having to operate in volatile markets, which reflect depletion of North Sea oil and gas fields, soaring global demand for all types of energy and over $100 a barrel for oil. Wholesale energy prices have been stubbornly high.

“These pressures are compounded by the rising transmission, distribution and environmental costs which suppliers have to meet. You cannot resist indefinitely the impact of these issues and I am sorry that all of this has culminated in the price rises we are announcing today.

Phillips-Davies emphasised that SSE were hiking their prices more than 10 weeks after British Gas put up their prices on 18 January and more than 12 weeks after Npower put up prices on 5 January.

Tim Wolfenden, head of home services uSwitch.com, said: As the last of the big six energy suppliers to increase its prices, SSE should be applauded for ensuring its customers were not impacted by price increases over the winter months. Unfortunately, it should come as no surprise to their customers that bills are increasing as where others lead, it was sure to follow.