Energy News

Scottish & Southern Last to Raise Prices

Thursday 20 March, 2008

By Dan Drage

Scottish & Southern became the last of the "big six" energy suppliers to announce price rises yesterday, with both gas and electricity tariffs set to rise to inflation busting levels.

The increases, which will come into effect on 1 April, constitute a 14.2% rise in electricity rates, and a 15.8% rise in gas rates.

npower (www.npower.com), EDF Energy (www.edfenergy.com), British Gas (www.britishgas.co.uk), Scottish Power (www.scottishpower.com) and E.ON (www.eon-uk.com) have already lifted their own prices.

In keeping with the stance taken by the other big six energy providers, Scottish & Southern have blamed rising wholesale prices and the exorbitant price of crude oil for these price hikes.

Scottish & Southern’s Energy Supply Director Alistair Phillips-Davies had the following to say:

‘Energy supply in the UK is changing dramatically, with companies having to operate in volatile markets, which reflect depletion of North Sea oil and gas fields, soaring global demand for all types of energy and over $100 a barrel for oil’

He continues:

‘These pressures are compounded by the rising transmission, distribution and environmental costs which suppliers have to meet. You cannot resist indefinitely the impact of these issues and I am sorry that all of this has culminated in the price rises we are announcing today.’

Since the start of the year, npower has put prices up for its electricity customers by 12.7% and gas prices rose by 17.2%. EDF put up electricity tariffs by 7.9% and gas prices by 12.9%.

Chris Eagle, commercial manager at EnergyChoices.co.uk, commends Scottish & Southern for delaying their price rises:

‘While most energy suppliers raised their prices during the cold winter time, an attempt to capitalise as much on these price hikes as much as possible, Scottish & Southern chose to raise prices in the spring. Although this is a commendable move, the price hikes will still leave many in fuel poverty. Contact Scottish & Southern right away if you think you might struggle to pay the next bill.’

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