British Gas announces a hike in energy bills of 14.2%
{{date|September 10, 2005}}
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One of [[w:United Kingdom|Britain]]'s largest domestic energy suppliers, [[w:British Gas|British Gas]], has announced that it is to raise the price of its gas and electricity prices by a record 14.2%. It blames the price rise on increasing wholesale gas prices, which have gone up by over 50% in the past year, the rising cost of oil & the increasing difficulty in getting gas from the North Sea, a major gas field for the United Kingdom. 

250 000 people on low incomes will receive a one-off GBP 60 (USD 110.35 , EUR 88.93) [[w:rebate|rebate]] to alleviate this price rise. 

This follows increases from other suppliers including [[w:Powergen|Powergen]] and [[w: EDF Energy|EDF Energy]], with both having risen their prices by 7 to 12%. [[w:Energywatch|Energywatch]], Britain's consumer energy watchdog has said domestic gas and electric bills have gone up by 17 and 22% on average respectively in the last 18 months to August.

In 2004, British Gas increased its prices by 5.9% in January and 12.4% in September.

Across the water in [[Ireland]], the Irish government approved a 25% increase on gas prices by the state owned monopoly, Bord Gais.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/0909/cer.html |title=Regulator backs energy price rises |author= |pub=RTE News |date=9 September 2005}} 

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4229718.stm |title=British Gas prices to rise 14% |author= |pub=BBC News |date=9 September 2005}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=107&newsid=743 |title=British Gas statement on energy prices |author= |pub=Centrica |date=9 September 2005}} (Note:Centrica is the parent company of British Gas)

 

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[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:North Sea]]
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One of Britain's largest domestic energy suppliers, British Gas, has announced that it is to raise the price of its gas and electricity prices by a record 14.2%. It blames the price rise on increasing wholesale gas prices, which have gone up by over 50% in the past year, the rising cost of oil & the increasing difficulty in getting gas from the North Sea, a major gas field for the United Kingdom. 

250 000 people on low incomes will receive a one-off GBP 60 (USD 110.35 , EUR 88.93) rebate to alleviate this price rise. 

This follows increases from other suppliers including Powergen and EDF Energy, with both having risen their prices by 7 to 12%. Energywatch, Britain's consumer energy watchdog has said domestic gas and electric bills have gone up by 17 and 22% on average respectively in the last 18 months to August.

In 2004, British Gas increased its prices by 5.9% in January and 12.4% in September.

Across the water in Ireland, the Irish government approved a 25% increase on gas prices by the state owned monopoly, Bord Gais.

* 
* (Note:Centrica is the parent company of British Gas)
Economy and business Europe United Kingdom North Sea