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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| E.On joins rush to raise prices | E.On joins rush to raise prices |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Energy provider E.On is to increase gas prices by 15% and electricity prices by 9.7%, with effect from 8 February. | |
| The company is the latest of the big utility companies to increase their prices. | The company is the latest of the big utility companies to increase their prices. |
| It has blamed a 60% increase in wholesale prices since February for the price rise. | It has blamed a 60% increase in wholesale prices since February for the price rise. |
| But 670,000 vulnerable customers will have the increase delayed until 1 April, said the company formerly known as Powergen. | |
| The German-owned energy giant is the fifth big energy provider to announce double-digit rises, after similar moves in recent weeks by British Gas, Npower, EDF and Scottish Power. | |
| 'Sustained pressure' | |
| Graham Bartlett, managing director of E.On Energy, said: "We realise the impact this price increase will have on our customers and we're doing everything we can to minimise this. | |
| "Our announcement has been made in response to sustained pressures from the wholesale market. | |
| "We are offering a new product to allow more customers to join the half a million already benefiting from protected prices, while also helping those customers who are most in need." | |
| Big six | |
| The industry is dominated by the 'big six' energy providers. | |
| Rivals British Gas - the UK's biggest power provider - increased gas and electricity prices by 15% in January. | |
| In the same month, Npower raised its electricity prices by 12.7% and its gas prices by 17.2% and EDF Energy also put up its electricity tariffs by 7.9% and gas bills by 12.9%. | |
| Most recently, Scottish Power increased gas bills by 15% and electricity bills by 14%. |