EDF follows British Gas in raising prices

♦ EDF Energy has become the latest Big Six energy giant to announce a price rise, as it blamed rising bills on the cost of installing smart meters.

Yesterday it announced its standard variable electricity tariff would rise by 2.7per cent in June, putting up the bills of 1.3million customers by an average of £16. The rise takes the average standard variable dual fuel price to £1,158 a year.

British Gas announced on Tuesday that its gas and electricity prices would increase by 5.5 per cent in May.

Experts expect other Big Six firms to follow suit with price rises this spring. EDF blamed its rise on “pressures with energy, policy and costs of installing meters”.

Speaking about British Gas, Claire Perry, the energy minister, described its default tariff rise as “unjustified ... when customers are already paying more than they need to”.

Alan Whitehead, the shadow business and energy minister, accused British Gas of rushing out an increase before the Government’s price cap on standard variable tariffs is rolled out later this year.