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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| British Gas to raise prices by 9.2% | British Gas to raise prices by 9.2% |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| British Gas is to increase prices for domestic customers, with a dual-fuel bill going up by 9.2% from 23 November. | British Gas is to increase prices for domestic customers, with a dual-fuel bill going up by 9.2% from 23 November. |
| The increase includes an 8.4% rise in gas prices and a 10.4% increase in electricity prices, British Gas's parent company Centrica said. | The increase includes an 8.4% rise in gas prices and a 10.4% increase in electricity prices, British Gas's parent company Centrica said. |
| The company said it "understands the frustration" of prices rising faster than incomes. | The company said it "understands the frustration" of prices rising faster than incomes. |
| This move comes after SSE announced an 8.2% increase in domestic bills from 15 November. | This move comes after SSE announced an 8.2% increase in domestic bills from 15 November. |
| Energy debate | Energy debate |
| Nearly eight million households will be affected by the price rise by British Gas, which operates as Scottish Gas in Scotland. On average they will see a dual-fuel bill increase by £123 to £1,444 a year. | |
| However, there are significant regional variations. On average, the biggest increase in a dual-fuel bill is an 11.2% rise in the Scottish Hydro Electric region. The smallest is a 6.8% increase in the south west of England. | |
| The company said that the cost of buying energy on the global markets, delivering gas and electricity to customers' homes, and the government's "green" levies, were all factors in the decision to put up prices. | The company said that the cost of buying energy on the global markets, delivering gas and electricity to customers' homes, and the government's "green" levies, were all factors in the decision to put up prices. |
| "I know these are difficult times for many customers and totally understand the frustration that so many household costs keep on rising when incomes are not keeping pace," said Ian Peters, managing director of British Gas Residential Energy. | "I know these are difficult times for many customers and totally understand the frustration that so many household costs keep on rising when incomes are not keeping pace," said Ian Peters, managing director of British Gas Residential Energy. |
| "We haven't taken this decision lightly, but what is pushing up energy prices at the moment are costs that are not all directly under our control." | "We haven't taken this decision lightly, but what is pushing up energy prices at the moment are costs that are not all directly under our control." |
| The company said it made a profit of five pence in the pound after tax. | |
| Between August and December last year, the "big six" energy companies outlined price rises of between 6% and 10.8%. | Between August and December last year, the "big six" energy companies outlined price rises of between 6% and 10.8%. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged a price freeze for 20 months if his party wins the next election. But Prime Minister David Cameron branded Mr Miliband's price freeze plan as a "con", saying that he did not have control over the worldwide price of gas. | Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged a price freeze for 20 months if his party wins the next election. But Prime Minister David Cameron branded Mr Miliband's price freeze plan as a "con", saying that he did not have control over the worldwide price of gas. |
| 'Transparent' | |
| Energy Minister Ed Davey described the latest price rise as "extremely disappointing news" for customers of British Gas. He told the Commons that unhappy consumers should consider switching suppliers. | |
| However, industry analysts expect other suppliers to announce price rises in the coming weeks. | |
| Mr Davey said that the company would need to justify its decision "openly and transparently". | |
| Caroline Flint, shadow energy secretary, said: "These latest price rises show clearer than ever why Labour's price freeze is needed." |