Energy bills set to rise in the south next month

MANY people in the south are to be slapped with a 6.9 per cent rise in the price of their dual fuel bills '“ a move that will add Â£73 to their household costs.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Mar 2017, 17:09 GMT

Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:56 GMT

Energy giant SSE said the hike is the result of an average 14.9 per cent electricity price increase and will impact on 2.8m customers.

The company pinned the rises on the increasing cost of supplying electricity, and specifically higher costs associated with delivering government programmes designed to upgrade ‘Britain’s ageing energy infrastructure’.

It said the increase will come into place on April 28.

Will Morris, SSE’s managing director for retail, said: ‘We deeply regret having to raise electricity prices.‘

The company said it will establish a £5m fund providing ‘targeted financial assistance’ to minimise the impact on vulnerable customers.

A typical dual fuel bill will now cost SSE customers £1,142 per year and the firm is the latest energy supplier to announce price hikes.