EDF Energy follows npower with energy price hikes
15/01/2008
EDF Energy today followed npower by increasing the cost of gas and electricity for its 5.5 million customer accounts. Customers hoping for some respite before their bills increase are going to be bitterly disappointed to hear the rises come into effect in just three days, on Friday 18th January.
The increases – an increase of 7.9% or £28 for electricity and 12.9% or £74 for gas - will hit its standard tariffs, affecting 59% of its customers. It will mean the average dual fuel customer’s household energy bill will go up from £907 to £1007 - £36 more expensive than when prices were at their peak last year.
EDF Energy blamed the increases on higher wholesale prices, rising delivery costs and the cost of meeting government targets for energy efficiency. However this has to be justified to customers who are facing £1,000 energy bills again in 2008, while suppliers continue to report huge profits.
Commenting on the news, Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com said: “Consumers are again being asked to accept an inflation busting price hike at face value without the courtesy of a detailed, clear and logical explanation. The industry has yet to provide any degree of transparency about how household energy bills are calculated and what costs consumers should legitimately be asked to shoulder.
“All people really want to know is whether they are being treated fairly or not but, with household energy bills heading back up over £1,000, they cannot afford to hang about waiting for an answer. Consumers must take action now and move to a cheaper energy deal if they want to protect their household from the impact of higher energy bills. By not switching consumers could waste savings of up to £325.”
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