Families urged to ditch British Gas as it puts £76 on bills

FAMILIES are being urged to switch from British Gas as it imposes a 12.5 per cent rise in electricity tariffs today.

The energy giant’s move will add £76 a year to the average annual dual fuel bill for more than 3million households.

But industry experts say these customers could save more than £300 by switching to a cheap tariff from a rival firm.

The move by British Gas mirrors increases in tariffs announced by other major suppliers in the so-called ‘big six’ – SSE, Npower, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power – earlier this year.

The increases have been condemned by consumer groups who say the wholesale cost of electricity and gas has been falling. The companies say the increases have been driven by tariffs and charges added to bills, including those to subsidise a shift to green energy.

Joe Malinowski, of price comparison website TheEnergyShop.com, said: ‘Our message is simple: don’t get mad, get even. It takes just five minutes to switch energy supplier.’