Financial News
- 12 October 2012, 6:57
Sky Sources: British Gas Plans Price Hike
British Gas is planning inflation-busting increases to its gas and electricity bills from the middle of November, according to Sky News sources.
Confirmation of the hike, due later this morning, is expected to be lower in percentage terms than rival energy company SSE which said it would increase its bills by 9% from October 15.
Around 16 million businesses and household customers will be affected.
British Gas, which is the largest provider of energy to households in the country, has refused to comment on speculation over the move.
SSE blamed its rise on "sustained increases" in the cost of using the electricity and gas networks, which include mandatory Government schemes and the price it pays for energy in the wholesale markets.
But consumer groups were quick to condemn the price increase which, combined with the rising cost of food, could mean that many consumers face a tough winter.
The so-called Big Six - British Gas, EDF, E.On, NPower, Scottish Power and SSE - control 99% of the UK's domestic energy supplies.
what do you think?
simon calvert
Here we go again prices hiked up just in time for the winter...disgusting, power companies should be non profit and nationalised, time to open up the chimneys again and start burning.
Gordon Wright
There's a chuffing surprise.............
David Rankin
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
blue side
About time government stepped in this is another great scam
andy johnson
y would the government step in there making more money the more we pay for energy the more vat we pay the more tax the energy companies pay (supposidly)
Stuart Harley
.never mind.........
Alison Mcallister
Here we go, cold weather approaches.....hike up the prices, sick to death of this sham...where are all the watchdogs?? energy companies seem to be able to please themselves what they charge...well i would rather be cold than pay this lot of robbers at least D i c k Turpin wore a mask
andy johnson
and only stole from the rich
john
They are doing it because they can, the gobsmiths probably get their heating paid by the taxpayer so they don't care. Any politicians sitting on the boards of these thieves?
Colin Tiso
yeh getting nice big backhanders to say and do nothing
ali baba
Cost of living us going crazy.
David Rankin
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Colin Tiso
dont use british gas never have done and never will i use electricity for all my cooking heating and hot water needs its cheaper and safer british gas need to watch themselves or they will be priced out of the energy market
andy johnson
there all following suit bg is the second
ali baba
cooking with gas fire is much tastier then electricity
andy johnson
someones getting a back hander i think this country needs to stand up we always accept whatever they throw at us french wouldnt put up with it
Billy Morrison
dont know 4 sure but ts b.g. owned by the french ?
David Francis
There is no point balimng BG - the problem is in the wholsale market where there is simply no competition. I suspect that EU bigwigs have a vested interest here because there is no sign of the EU competition laws being enforced.
David Francis
Ahem,....blaming..BG
andy johnson
i think it was only 4or5 months ago british gas were boasting highest ever profit , y cant they be happy greedy gets the lot of them the government make extra millions off the back of it there all winners apart from us mugs
Michael Hawkins
Time to get on those price comparison sites and move to a cheaper supplier - however where on goes the others usually follow
Raymond Castle
Wasn't that long ago I had two guys from BG at my door trying to convince me that their company would be best to switch to as 'they have a proven track record and are the best and cheapest in the country for gas and electricity' etc. They both seemed very surprised when I said 'no thanks, I'm quite happy with the company I'm with'. After about 15 minutes of them trying everything to get me to change my mind they eventually gave up and moved to my neighbour. I'm sure I remember BG once being a good company to be with, what went wrong?
Nigel L
Record profits for first 6 months of the year. This is pure greed at its most obscene but dont look to your MP to stand up to these corparate robbers
john
The Cooperative Energy group is run as a mutual society, no shareholders, not a member of the energy cartel, worth a look if you want to switch your supplier.
shirley sutton
They'll all follow suit to make more money now that winter is here - got to keep their 200% + profit margins haven't they?
Brian E Gorton
1:25pm on 11/10/2012
Dont use British gas (British gas) thats a laugh.
Anne Stokes
1:30pm on 11/10/2012
are any of our utility companies BRITISH owned anymore?