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| First Utility to increase price of dual fuel tariff by average of 18.6% | First Utility to increase price of dual fuel tariff by average of 18.6% |
| (5 months later) | |
| Energy provider First Utility is to increase the price of its most popular tariff by an average of 18.6%. | Energy provider First Utility is to increase the price of its most popular tariff by an average of 18.6%. |
| The company which until now has been one of the UK's cheapest gas and electricity firms, is scrapping its iSave v12 dual fuel tariff and moving customers on it to a new, more expensive iSave Everyday tariff. It blamed its own increased costs for the decision. | The company which until now has been one of the UK's cheapest gas and electricity firms, is scrapping its iSave v12 dual fuel tariff and moving customers on it to a new, more expensive iSave Everyday tariff. It blamed its own increased costs for the decision. |
| The price hike, which will be implemented on 1 June, will add £16 a month, or almost £200 a year, to the typical dual fuel bill. | The price hike, which will be implemented on 1 June, will add £16 a month, or almost £200 a year, to the typical dual fuel bill. |
| The move will come as a blow to First Utility's 180,000 customers, many of whom moved to the company to escape the big six energy firms. The rise exceeds those made by its biggest rivals. British Gas increased prices by 6% last autumn while npower increased gas by 8.8% and electricity by 9.1%. | The move will come as a blow to First Utility's 180,000 customers, many of whom moved to the company to escape the big six energy firms. The rise exceeds those made by its biggest rivals. British Gas increased prices by 6% last autumn while npower increased gas by 8.8% and electricity by 9.1%. |
| Consumers who have had billing problems with First Utility have also reported poor customer service. | Consumers who have had billing problems with First Utility have also reported poor customer service. |
| Darren Braham, founder of First Utility, said: "We remain committed to delivering the best value energy for consumers, evidenced by our Price Promise to guarantee our standard prices remain lower than those of the big six combined with a very competitive fixed price tariff. | Darren Braham, founder of First Utility, said: "We remain committed to delivering the best value energy for consumers, evidenced by our Price Promise to guarantee our standard prices remain lower than those of the big six combined with a very competitive fixed price tariff. |
| "However, the network costs, the increasing price of wholesale energy and the social and environmental obligations mandated by the government have meant that we regretfully need to increase our prices." | "However, the network costs, the increasing price of wholesale energy and the social and environmental obligations mandated by the government have meant that we regretfully need to increase our prices." |
| He said the company had chosen to delay changing its prices for as long as possible and until customers were through the coldest winter months whereas the big six all announced price rises at the end of 2012 during the coldest period. | He said the company had chosen to delay changing its prices for as long as possible and until customers were through the coldest winter months whereas the big six all announced price rises at the end of 2012 during the coldest period. |
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