UK: Bills look set to soar by another £300

Figures last week showed annual bills have now risen to £1,345 a year for the average household – double the £740 of five years ago.

A report published today by green group Friends of the Earth says if gas and coal costs rise in the coming decade by the same amount as they did between 2000 and 2010, the nation would face an additional bill of £8billion a year by 2020 to generate electricity, costing the average householder an extra £300.

Electricity bills rose by 30 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2010, while gas bills jumped 78 per cent. The rises were largely due to increased costs of coal, which rose by 71 per cent, and natural gas, which rose 90 per cent, in the decade, Friends of the Earth said.

There is widespread public anger at the Big Six because their profits have soared while consumers have suffered. Three months ago they were making £15 a year from customers, now the figures is £125.

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