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Latest price rise puts spotlight on firms introducing bigger hikes

12 Tachwedd 2013

Citizens Advice has said the latest energy price rise brings into question the much larger increases from those firms who have already announced hikes.  Today EDF announced a price rise of 3.9%.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“The price increase announcement from EDF today puts the spotlight on the other big energy firms who are introducing much larger price hikes.  Many consumers will believe suppliers are putting profits before customers’ need to stay warm this winter.

“People do not have the money to keep absorbing price rises. For many households the pot is quite literally empty. Families are facing tough choices, like cutting back on food, in order to put the heating on for just a short while.

“Since the first price increase over 40,000 people have sought online help about energy bills from Citizens Advice.

“The Government can ease the burden of big energy bills by lifting levies off bills and picking up these costs through taxation. The current system is regressive and sees people on low incomes paying for the very help that is supposed to support them.”

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.