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said: “They should take the power back into their own hands and radically change how much they pay, simply by choosing a better deal. “Customers stuck on poor-value standard tariffs should look to switch now.” The price rise kicks in on October 1 and will add £44 to a household’s typical gas and electricity bill. It follows a 5.5 per cent rise – or £60 a year – at the end of May.
The two rises will rake in an extra £360million.
British Gas were accused of timing the rise to take effect before the proposed cap on standard prices, due later this year.
Nearly 290,000 customers ditched British Gas, part of Centrica, in the first half of this year. Centrica boss Iain Conn pocketed £1.7million last year.
Centrica Consumer chief executive Mark Hodges, who got £1.2million last year, said they had “reluctantly” increased prices and it “reflects the sharp rise in wholesale energy costs”.
But Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey said: “The energy companies have gone way too far in ripping off their customers.”