SSE to raise electricity prices for half of its pre-payment meter customers
The energy firm said that the vast majority of customers would see bills go down
SSE, one of the UK’s biggest energy suppliers, is increasing electricity prices for half of its pre-payment meter customers.
One half of customers will see electricity costs go up by an average of 3 per cent, while the remainder will see a 2 per cent reduction from April 1.
Pre-payment gas customers will see bills drop by 13 per cent on average.
The energy firm refused to say how many customers would be affected by the changes due to “commercial reasons” but said it was less than 25 per cer of overall prepayment customers.
SSE said that the alterations were due to a cap on prices for prepayment meter customers which comes into force in April.
The temporary price cap is expected to save four million customers on prepayment meters an average of £80 a year.
The cap is a result of a two-year investigation by the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) into the energy industry.
The levels of the cap vary for gas and electricity by meter type and region.
The limit is due to expire at the end of 2020 when the roll out of smart meters is set to be completed.
Around 5.9 million people in the UK have a pre-payment meter, according to uSwitch.com.
Those with meters pay an average of £312 a year more than those on top deals.
In a statement SSE said: “We’re pleased to announce that the large majority of SSE pre-payment customers (over 75 per cent) will see the overall cost of energy decrease.”
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