Families face paying £400m extra on energy bills as ‘price hike fortnight’ begins today
The rise is expected to spark anger among many struggling households who have been urged to explore switching options
BRITS are set to be slapped with a £400m energy bill in the next two weeks in what critics have dubbed “price hike fortnight”.
Four of the Big Six energy firms announced they were ramping up prices in the summer, affecting about 7.4 million homes.
The hikes are set to come into force over the first two weeks of June, with British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF and npower customers all affected.
Figures released by the energy firms show an eye-watering £393.8m in extra bills will bleed from Brits' bank accounts when the changes hit.
The figures have been collated by renewable energy firm Pure Planet, who this year became the first energy company to lower their prices for members.
Steven Day, co-founder of the renewable energy firm, urged consumers to switch from the big firms before pricey bills land on their mat this winter.
“They shouldn’t be distracted by the warm sun outside but make the quick switch to avoid big bills all year.
British Gas announced that its prices will change on May 29, with a 5.5 per cent price hike set to hit 4.1m customers – costing on average £60 extra per year.
The country's biggest energy firm will be billing customers £246m more than last year.
Scottish Power has announced it would change prices on June 1. Their 5.5 per cent price hike will hit 1m customers, sending bills soaring by £63 per year.
EDF energy's price hike of 1.4 per cent which will see 1.3m people’s bills rise by £16 per year on June 5.
And British energy giant npower puts prices up by 5.4 per cent on June 17.
The increase will hit a million households, increasing bills by £64 per year.
SSE is the only one of the Big Six firms yet to reveal a price increase after news of its potential merger with npower.
Eon, the German energy company, was accused of a stealth price increase in March when it quietly removed its dual fuel discount, costing a quarter of its customers £50 per year.
Energy Minister Claire Perry said: "Consumers should vote with their feet. Switching suppliers will always help consumers get the best deal.”
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