2.8 million standard variable customers to be hit with a 6.9% price rise from 28th April
SSE customer bill climbs from £1,069 to £1,142 a year – a £73 increase per customer or £204 million in total
SSE blames the increasing cost of supplying electricity
With hikes from five out of the six largest suppliers, Uswitch urges customers to reject rises and save up to £618 per year by switching to a fixed deal.
SSE has announced that its dual fuel customers will be hit with a 6.9% price rise from 28th April, adding £73 to their energy bill. Electricity bills will be hit with a 14.9% rise while gas rates will stay the same. The price rise will affect a total of 2.8 million households.
Commenting on the news, Claire Osborne, energy expert at Uswitch.com, says: “The big six have laid their cards on the table and they are stacked against energy customers. This price rise is a double whammy – not only is SSE the second largest energy supplier but it also has the highest proportion of customers sitting on its standard variable tariff. Almost three million customers will be hit by this latest blow.
“The danger now is that talk of Government intervention will lull consumers into a false sense of security when they should be voting with their feet and getting themselves a cheaper deal today. A cap on an expensive tariff would be far from a silver bullet, and in reality would likely make things worse. It would remove any motivation whatsoever for these major suppliers to try to retain their customers, whether by offering the lowest possible prices or exceptional service.
“Suppliers need to feel the pressure of competition – the real threat of their customers leaving them – to have any incentive to offer good value.
“We urge consumers not to put up with these hikes but to fight back. There is an incredible saving of up to £618 a year to be made by switching to a fixed deal. Fixing your energy can be extremely valuable for those on a tight budget and could make all the difference in being able to afford to keep warm.”
Table 1: Energy suppliers’ price rises in 2017 so far
| Supplier | Previous SVT price | New SVT price | Difference | No. of customers affected | Total impact on bills | Comes into effect from: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDF Energy | £1,069 | £1,082 | £13 | 1,943,277 | £25.3m | 1st March | ||
| npower | £1,077 | £1,187 | £109 | 1,400,000 | £152.6m | 16th March | ||
| ScottishPower | £1,081 | £1,167 | £86 | 1,100,000 | £94.6m | 31st March | ||
| Co-operative Energy | £1,121 | £1,179 | £58 | 96,158 | £5.6m | 1st April | ||
| First Utility | £1,047 | £1,149 | £102 | 117,000 | £11.9m | 1st April | ||
| E.ON | £1,057 | £1,154 | £97 | 2,500,000 | £242.5m | 26th April | ||
| SSE | £1,069 | £1,142 | £73 | 2,800,000 | £204m | 28th April | ||
| British Gas | £1,044 | £1,044 | – | – | – | Prices frozen until August | ||
| TOTAL: | 9,956,435 | £736.5m |
Source: Uswitch.com correct as of 13th March, 2017
All bills paying by direct debit on Ofgem medium consumption.
Find out how you could save over £1,000 a year with Uswitchhere.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ailene Barr
Phone: 020 3872 5610
Email: ailene.barr@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
Notes to editors
1. http://sse.com/newsandviews/allarticles/2017/03/changes-to-standard-gb-domestic-energy-prices/
2. Between 1 June 2016 and 30 November 2016, at least 10% of people who switched energy supplier for both gas & electricity with Uswitch saved £618 or more.
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