Customers face above-inflation price hike as British Gas raises bills by 5.5%

Average home to now pay on average £1,161 a year as supplier blames rising wholesale prices and green subsidies

Millions of British Gas customers will see their energy bills rise by 5.5% to an average £1,161 a year, sparking criticism from the government and consumer groups.

Ministers called the hike unjustified and said they were disappointed by the move.

The UK’s biggest energy supplier blamed the hike on rising wholesale gas and electricity prices, and government policies such as renewable energy subsidies, which are paid through energy bills.

E.ON announced a stealth hike on energy bills of up to £50 for some customers in March, but British Gas is the first large supplier this year to raise its standard variable tariff, the poor value tariffs that most households are on. 

Read the full article on The Guardian's website:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/apr/10/british-gas-raises-energy-bills-by-55