British Gas announces price hike

British Gas has become the third energy supplier to inflict misery on consumers with price hikes on gas and electricity. The company announced today (January 17) that it is to raise its prices by an average of 15%.

Energywatch, the energy watchdog, says this latest hike means British Gas customers have seen bills go up by around 75% since 2003.

Allan Asher, Energywatch’s chief executive, says: “This increase piles on even more agony for the consumers, who are facing a salvo of mid-winter double-digit energy price rises.”

British Gas owner Centrica defended the hikes and says that the 340,000 vulnerable customers on its Essential tariffs will have the rises delayed until the end of the winter.

Asher adds: “Their performance ranges from the good to the hopeless. British Gas has been one of the better suppliers, committing around 75% of the total industry commitment to social tariffs. We welcome the news that consumers on the Essentials tariff will be spared for a few months, but that’s a pain postponed, not avoided.”