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Cash-strapped consumers have been dealt a fresh blow after the owner of Scottish Gas announced a 5.5 per cent, or £60 a year, hike in energy bills.

British Gas, the UK’S largest energy supplier, is to increase energy bills for 4.1 million dual fuel customers on its standard variable tariff (SVT) from 29 May, blaming rising wholesale energy and Government policy costs.

Energy minister Claire Perry has branded the increase as “unjustified”.

Meanwhile Ofgem, describing the move as “unwelcome”, says householders should shop around for their fuel.

The price of British Gas’s SVT will rise to £1,161 a year for a typical dual fuel customer, the company’s owner, Centrica, said.

The rise comes as Scottish Government ministers consider options for establishing a state-owned company that would provide household power and could invest in renewable energy.

British Gas cited increased wholesale gas and electricity costs and the price of Tory policies as being behind its latest bills hike.

It blamed initiatives such as the smart meter roll-out and schemes to reduce carbon emissions, and argued that the funding of “all Government policy costs should be paid for in a fairer way such