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| EDF to raise energy cost by 10.8% | EDF to raise energy cost by 10.8% |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| EDF Energy customers will see a 10.8% rise in gas and electricity prices from 7 December, the company has announced. | EDF Energy customers will see a 10.8% rise in gas and electricity prices from 7 December, the company has announced. |
| EDF, which has three million domestic customers, is the fifth major energy firm to announce price rises and it is the biggest average increase so far. | |
| It accepted that the rise would be "unwelcome" but said it could no longer avoid a rise for domestic customers. | It accepted that the rise would be "unwelcome" but said it could no longer avoid a rise for domestic customers. |
| It blamed the cost of wholesale energy and government charges including mandatory energy efficiency schemes. | |
| "We know that customers will not welcome this news and do not want to see prices going up," said EDF director Martin Lawrence. | "We know that customers will not welcome this news and do not want to see prices going up," said EDF director Martin Lawrence. |
| "It is worth pointing out that one in five of our customers are already on competitive fixed priced tariffs and will not be affected by these price changes this winter." | "It is worth pointing out that one in five of our customers are already on competitive fixed priced tariffs and will not be affected by these price changes this winter." |
| EDF has three million domestic customers in the UK. | EDF has three million domestic customers in the UK. |
| Other price rises | Other price rises |
| EDF, which claimed that its prices would still be lower than the rest of the major suppliers, said that the average dual fuel bill would go up by £2.35 a week, the equivalent of more than £122 a year to bring the total bill to £1,251 a year. | EDF, which claimed that its prices would still be lower than the rest of the major suppliers, said that the average dual fuel bill would go up by £2.35 a week, the equivalent of more than £122 a year to bring the total bill to £1,251 a year. |
| The price rise is higher in percentage terms than any of the other suppliers, and leaves E.On as the only supplier among the big six yet to announce price rises this autumn and winter. | |
| E.On has previously said that it would leave prices unchanged for the rest of the year. | E.On has previously said that it would leave prices unchanged for the rest of the year. |
| The round of price changes has prompted some political debate, and has come as the energy regulator Ofgem announced plans to simplify bills to make the switching process easier. | The round of price changes has prompted some political debate, and has come as the energy regulator Ofgem announced plans to simplify bills to make the switching process easier. |
| However, some uncertainty remains over Prime Minister David Cameron's comments that energy suppliers would be forced to put their customers on the cheapest tariff. | However, some uncertainty remains over Prime Minister David Cameron's comments that energy suppliers would be forced to put their customers on the cheapest tariff. |
| All the latest energy price rises are displayed as an average across the UK. However, price changes might differ depending on where residents live in the country. | All the latest energy price rises are displayed as an average across the UK. However, price changes might differ depending on where residents live in the country. |
| EDF cut gas prices by 5% in the spring, and was the last of the big six to announce price rises last winter, when it put up gas prices by 15.4% and electricity prices by 4.5%. | |
| It has pledged that its most vulnerable elderly customers would only be charged the equivalent of its cheapest tariff from this winter. | |
| Ann Robinson, of price comparison website Uswitch.com, said: "This is the final hammer blow for energy bills this side of Christmas. Consumers now face a winter of rationing their energy usage - many will be forced to turned their heating down or off for fear of the impact of these hikes. | |
| "However, we welcome EDF Energy's support for its most vulnerable elderly customers who will automatically benefit from its cheapest prices. This could be a lifeline for many." | |
| Are you an EDF customer? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you an EDF customer? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |