POWERFUL PRICE HIKES

A postcode lottery means many British Gas customers will be hit with higher-thanaverage price hikes from next month. The energy giant this week announced its standard variation tariffs will jump 5.5% – £60 a year – on May 29. But that masks some big regional variations.

For example, electricity prices in the Midlands will rise 6.8% (£74), 6.6% (£71) in East Anglia and mid-Scotland, and 6.3% (£70) along parts of the south coast.

On the flip side, prices will rise 4.9% (£52) in the East Midlands, and 4.1% (£44) in the North East.

British Gas said the changes reflected different pricing by regional electricity network firms.

Owner Centrica also blamed the price rise on the Government’s green taxes, which will add £10.4billion to bills this year.

Yet Centrica benefits in part from those after bagging contracts to supply extra electricity at peak times.