This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39253699
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| SSE to raise electricity prices next month | SSE to raise electricity prices next month |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SSE has become the latest "big six" energy supplier to raise its prices. | SSE has become the latest "big six" energy supplier to raise its prices. |
| It said average electricity prices would rise by 14.9% from 28 April for 2.8 million customers. However, it will keep its gas prices unchanged. | It said average electricity prices would rise by 14.9% from 28 April for 2.8 million customers. However, it will keep its gas prices unchanged. |
| As a result, SSE said a typical dual fuel customer would see their annual bill rise by 6.9%, or £73. | As a result, SSE said a typical dual fuel customer would see their annual bill rise by 6.9%, or £73. |
| It blamed the increase on government policies which mean customers subsidise energy from renewable sources and the cost of smart meter installation. | |
| Other government-imposed costs include subsidising the feed-in tariff scheme for people who install solar panels on their roofs. | Other government-imposed costs include subsidising the feed-in tariff scheme for people who install solar panels on their roofs. |
| 'Deep regret' | 'Deep regret' |
| SSE says the price rise for electricity is its first for three and half years. | SSE says the price rise for electricity is its first for three and half years. |
| Four of the other big six energy companies have already announced price rises this year, while British Gas has announced a price freeze until August. | Four of the other big six energy companies have already announced price rises this year, while British Gas has announced a price freeze until August. |
| Will Morris, SSE's managing director for retail, said he "deeply regretted" having to put up prices. | Will Morris, SSE's managing director for retail, said he "deeply regretted" having to put up prices. |
| "This is the first increase since 2013 and we've worked hard to keep them down for as long as possible by cutting our own costs, putting in place a winter price freeze and holding gas prices, but we have seen significant increases in electricity costs which are outside our control," he said. | "This is the first increase since 2013 and we've worked hard to keep them down for as long as possible by cutting our own costs, putting in place a winter price freeze and holding gas prices, but we have seen significant increases in electricity costs which are outside our control," he said. |
| "Without an increase we would have been supplying electricity to domestic customers at a loss." | "Without an increase we would have been supplying electricity to domestic customers at a loss." |
| Last December, industry regulator Ofgem published figures showing that 91% of SSE customers were on standard variable tariffs, and therefore will be affected immediately by the price increase. | Last December, industry regulator Ofgem published figures showing that 91% of SSE customers were on standard variable tariffs, and therefore will be affected immediately by the price increase. |
| That compared to 66% of all UK households who were on standard variable tariffs (SVT). | |
| Ofgem pointed out the large savings customers could make by moving from an SVT to their current supplier's cheapest fixed tariff - £98 a year in the case of people with SSE. | |
| Earlier this month SSE had to apologise to a number of customers whose smart meters had been reporting astonishingly high rogue readings for their electricity use. |