British Gas hikes electricity prices by 12.5%
2nd August 2017 | Residential Energy
The government rejected British Gas’ claim that its policy is forcing the company to raise electricity prices and said it is concerned that the price rise “will hit man people already on poor-value tariffs”.
British Gas announced on Tuesday it is raising electricity prices by 12.5% for 3.1 million of its UK customers from September. It is the first rise in electricity prices from the energy provider since November 2013. Centrica, British Gas’ owner, accidentally leaked the plans on its own website on Monday evening.
The price hike “reflects the increasing costs of energy policy, and delivery to customers’ homes since 2014,” British Gas said in a statement on Tuesday morning. “In that time, overall electricity costs have increased by 16%.”
But the Business, Energy, and Industry Strategy Department rejected British Gas’ reasoning for the price rise. A spokesperson said in a statement: “Government policy costs make up a relatively small proportion of household energy bills. Wholesale prices are the bigger proportion of household bills and are coming down.”
British Gas
The spokesperson added: “Energy firms should treat all their customers fairly and we’re concerned this price rise will hit many people already on poor-value tariffs. The Business and Energy Secretary has written to Ofgem asking what action the regulator intends to take to safeguard customers on the poorest value tariffs and the future of the standard variable tariff.
“In response, Ofgem has committed to taking prompt action, in consultation with consumer experts, to develop proposals including a safeguard tariff. We want to see rapid progress on this commitment and are ruling nothing out.”
Theresa May attacked Npower’s planned 15% price hike as “shocking” earlier this year and announced plans for an energy price cap in May. However, her government has taken no action since June’s snap election.
More information available on the website below
http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-gas-electricity-price-rise-for-31-million-people-2017-8