uSwitch gas & electricity news February 2006

British Gas announced today it will be raising its prices for the second time in six months. Gas prices will rise by 22% and electricity by 22%.

The price rises will come into effect from 1st March 2006.

British Gas cited the price rises were necessary against a "backdrop of unprecedented increases in the wholesale cost of energy". Customers who have already signed up to British Gas' Price Protection 2007 and 2010, will not be affected by these price increases.

uSwitch.com has updated the prices for British Gas on our gas and electricity comparison and switching service.

EDF Energy have followed ScottishPower and announced they will be raising their gas and electricity prices. Over 4.7 million customers who are supplied by EDF Energy, London Energy, SWEB Energy and Seeboard Energy will pay an extra 14.7% for their gas and 4.7% for their electricity.

The price rise will come into effect from 13th March 2006.

However EDF Energy did have some good news for customers. Online plans which are offered through price comparison services such as uSwitch.com will not be affected by this price rise. Customers who are on capped or fixed products will also not be affected.

EDF Energy cited in their press release that "soaring wholesale costs" had forced them to make the price rise.

uSwitch.com has updated the prices for EDF Energy, London Energy, Seeboard Energy and SWEB Energy in our gas and electricity comparison and switching service.

ScottishPower has announced that it will be putting up its energy prices, leaving customers facing a 15% rise in gas prices and an 8% rise for electricity. The price rise will come into effect from 1st March 2006.

The company's Director of Energy Retail, Willie MacDiarmid cited soaring wholesale energy costs as the reason for the price rise.

uSwitch.com has updated all ScottishPower tariffs in our gas & electricity calculator.