Npower To Raise Gas And Electricity Bills

Energy supplier Npower has become the latest company to announce it will hike its gas and electricity bills this year.

From October 1, gas prices will rise 15.7% and electricity will go up 7.2%.

It means an increase for the average standard monthly direct debit dual-fuel customer of 37p per day, or 12.2%.

Npower has become the fifth major energy supplier to announce price rises this year.

Earlier this month, Eon announced its electricity prices will rise by 11.4% and gas costs will be up by 18.1% from September.

It follows rises by British Gas , Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Energy .

EDF Energy is the last of the 'big six' suppliers yet to announce its annual price increases for customers.

Kevin Miles, chief commercial officer at RWE Npower said: "I know it hurts everyone when we put up prices and I wish we didn't have to.

"With reduced quantities of North Sea gas, we are now forced to buy energy on the volatile global wholesale market.

"World events have pushed up prices and we believe this trend will continue."

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "With just one more major supplier left to announce, very few cash-strapped British households will be escaping a double digit increase to their energy bills this year.

"If the fall in wholesale prices continues I would urge suppliers to pass these reductions on to their customers as quickly as possible to relieve some of the pressure we expect to see on winter energy bills this year."