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British Gas increases gas and electricity bills British Gas increases gas and electricity bills
(40 minutes later)
British Gas, owned by Centrica, is putting up its domestic gas and electricity bills from 18 August. British Gas, owned by Centrica, is putting up its domestic gas and electricity prices from 18 August.
Gas bills will rise by an average of 18% and electricity bills by an average of 16%, costing an extra £190 a year for the average dual fuel customer. Gas bills will rise by an average of 18% and electricity bills by an average of 16%,.
The change will affect nine million households with the average dual fuel customer paying an extra £190 a year.
The company blamed the rising wholesale cost of gas, which has gone up by 30% since last winter.The company blamed the rising wholesale cost of gas, which has gone up by 30% since last winter.
In June, Scottish Power announced it would raise the cost of gas by 19% and the cost of electricity by 10%. British Gas managing director Phil Bentley said its bills were being driven higher by the fact that the company buys 50% of its gas on the international wholesale market.
British Gas Managing Director, Phil Bentley, said its bills were being driven higher by the fact that the company buys 50% of its gas on the international wholesale market.
"We are buying in a global energy market and have to pay the market rate," he said."We are buying in a global energy market and have to pay the market rate," he said.
"Rising wholesale costs is an issue facing all energy suppliers," he added."Rising wholesale costs is an issue facing all energy suppliers," he added.
Centrica had already warned that it was likely to raise prices this year. In May, the company said its customers were not paying enough to reflect the increased cost of gas on the wholesale markets. 'Healthy profits'
The latest rise in energy bills, which is likely to be followed by other big energy suppliers, comes after a round of increases last winter which saw British Gas put its charges up by 7% in December. Centrica had already warned that it was likely to raise prices this year.
In May, the company said its customers were not paying enough to reflect the increased cost of gas on the wholesale markets.
But this argument was rejected by Mike O'Connor, the chief executive of Consumer Focus.
"Wholesale costs have gone up but they are still around a third lower than their 2008 peak," he said.
"Yet in this time British Gas' prices alone have risen by around 44% on gas and 21% on electricity and suppliers have made healthy profits."
Spending squeeze
In June, Scottish Power became the first of the big-six energy suppliers to announce another set of price increases.
It said it would raise the cost of gas by 19% and the cost of electricity by 10% at the start of August.
The latest increase in energy bills, which is likely to be followed by other big energy suppliers, comes after a round of increases last winter which saw British Gas put its charges up by 7% in December.
"Average household bill for a dual fuel British Gas customer will now go up from £1,096 to £1,288," said the price comparison service Uswitch.
"In total, British Gas customers will have seen their bills shoot up by £258 or 25% within a year, taking them from £1,030 a year to £1,288," Uswitch added.
Richard Lloyd, of the consumers' association Which?, said the energy firm's announcement was an unwelcome move.
"Many people are already having to cut back on essentials because of the rising cost of living, and with energy bills rising further, this could be a cold winter for many," he said.
Are you a British Gas customer? Will you be affected by the increase? Are you a family concerned at rising energy costs? Send your comments using the form below.