Ton Zijp/Flickr
(qlmbusinessnews.com via telegraph.co.uk – – Tue, 10 Apr 2018) London, Uk – –
British Gas is hiking the price of its dual fuel tariff by an average of 5.5pc, or £60 a year, in a move that will hit 4.1 million households
Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, said its decision has been driven by “rising wholesale and policy costs”.
Energy companies have come under pressure over the use of standard variable tariffs which are often more expensive for customers than fixed-term deals.
The price hike will not affect 3.7 million customers who are on fixed-term contracts, prepayment meters or classed as vulnerable.
Mark Hodges, Centrica consumer chief executive, said that, while the price increase “adds extra pressure on customers' household bills”, the price increase was “reflective of the costs we are seeing which are beyond our control”.
He took aim at the Government, saying: “Government policies, intended to transform the energy system, are important, but they are putting pressure on customers' bills. We believe Government should level the playing field so the customers of all suppliers pay a fair share of energy policy costs.”
He added: “We continue to encourage Government to consider moving these costs out of energy bills altogether and into general taxation.”
By Ayesha Javed
