The Guardian’s Matthew King reports that British Gas has stunned households across the UK by announcing a rise in gas and electricity prices of 18% and 16%, just eight months after it raised its prices by 7%. This comes at the same time as Scottish & Southern Energy suspends all doorstep sales with the loss of 900 jobs.
The increase, which will affect 9 million customers and be effective from 18 August, provoked energy minister Chris Huhne to today demand change in the UK electricity market.
