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.
The British Gas price rises come just months after a 7% rise. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA
