EDF have announced they are increasing the price of its standard tariff by 22% for gas and 17% for electricity with immediate effect. They are the first of the 'big six' UK energy providers to act - passing on the increased cost of wholesale gas to the consumer.

Scott Byrom, utilities manager at moneysupermarket.com, said:

"EDF is the first to throw down the gauntlet and increase prices with immediate effect and it is only a matter of time before other providers follow suit. This marks the second price increase from EDF this year - a total rise of 34.9 per cent for gas and electricity by 24.9 per cent since January 2008.

"Bill payers should now brace themselves for a summer of price hikes, but with 86 per cent of people saying they couldn't afford a 40 per cent increase in energy bills, this could be a hard pill to swallow.

"EDF customers on their standard tariff have faced a £400 increase from this time last year. All customers, especially those languishing on a standard tariff, should be proactive to find the best possible deal.

"One option is to apply for an online tariff and take advantage of the market leading prices on offer. However, these products are variable and are at risk to further price hikes.

"For those less willing to take a gamble, a fixed tariff is by far the best option - moving onto Scottish Power's Fixed Price 2009 from EDF's standard option would save bill payers £330 for example. However, with prices creeping up, I foresee providers pulling attractive fixed tariffs from the market, so Brits need to act now.

"Naturally, some consumers will be extremely concerned about their ability to pay their energy bills and I would advise them to seek help and more information about social tariffs available to them. Today's move from Ofgem to ensure social tariffs are in line with the supplier's cheapest deal is a step in the right direction. I would like to see this implemented sooner rather than later so fuel poor customers can benefit from these recommendations at the earliest opportunity."

Compare tariffs from UK gas & electricity providers

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Community

It doesnt seem to matter anymore ,shopping around only lessens the pain in the short term.

what we need is government action on this NOW because surely the explotation of consumers in this way makes the great big bank charges debate seem like a quiet discussion.

We are talk about basic living here, heating and electric and soon unless action is taken then consumers are going to have to just refuse to pay in protest then they would have to take lets say an enitre town maybe city to court!!

Its getting ridiculous,we are being forced to pay some of the highest if not THEE highest utility bills in the eu yet the uk government or the eu seems to just pay lip service to the issue.

Il make a prediction that by end of august all of the big six will have raised prices with immeidate effect,which will only create a knock on effect meaning people are not able to pay their loans in full on things like cars,personal loans,morgages etc because their basic living costs are raising ever faster than wages .

I'd suggest you get yourself to a supplier that offers price freezing. At least that way you can control how much you're charged.

DID YOU NOT READ MY FIRST SENTENCE!!

Loony do you work in this industry or something because surely you cant disagree that prices are already way too high even with price freezing.

Shopping around and get price freezes only lessens the pain in the short term,,

price freezes generally last 2 years,some less ,some more and as its a tied into contract,some dont go down as the wholesale cost does,the price is fixed and thats the price the customer has to pay whatever the price in lets say 6 months time.

Then ,when the deal expires and the wholesale cost goes up compared to the previous deal,the customer is then hit with a almighty rise ,i dare say this will happen when the 2006 deals expire along with the 1 year deals customers signed upto last year,since then i reckon there has been atleast 3 price rises and as SCOTT BYROM has pointed out prices have gone up 25% for electric and 35% for gas since jan 2008,so when these deals do expire,how many people do you reckon will be sucked into fuel poverty,thousands maybe it will creep into millions im not sure.

What i am sure about is this can not go on,price feezes dont work in the customers best intrests and never will .

I did read the whole thing and yes I do work in the industry. I'm trying to present the other side of the argument. I agree that the prices are ridiculous (I have to pay them myself!), and some companies are doing things to help lessen the pain. Some just throw you to the lions but that's another argument. When price freezing ends at the company I work in, you get the option to extend it. It works for most people. Nothing will work for everyone. But it at least helps you control your energy prices, which in an industry that is volatile at best, it's a prudent step.

Ive started fitting energy saving light bulbs and L.E.D.s, and has reduced my electricity bill considerably.:-) IKEA is a good place to buy them.

ESL'S ARE USELESS FOR ME, how many lights do you have.

For me the average joe blogg they are a con as its takes a estimated 5 years to recoup the intial cost.

Fortunatley ive stocked up the soon to be illegal NORMAL lightbulbs,which may not last as long but are cheaper and dont cost much more on your bill,ive got the proof for mine,maybe others are different.

loony i guessed you worked in the industry straight away and i was right,but you are to scared to reveal more.

The way they do price freezing sounds great but i still have my doubts.

Scared? Moi? Too blooming right! I've read the vitriol spewing out about all the energy companies! I don't want to be bombarded with hate mail! I have an advice thread on here somewhere along with Malbrega who also works in the industry. We won't reveal our real selves of course!

Interesting time to work in the industry though it has to be said. And the amount of EDF customers I had on the blower yesterday cursing them for offering fixed deals was quite amusing!

The major infrastructures of this country should never have been sold of to overseas investors. The Utilities of this country should have been kept under Government control. As we all know its all about money/profits and what do the investors care about the infrastructure of this country, once they've stripped the assetts and fleeced it they move onto their next venture whatever state its left in.

It was obvious years ago that oil & gas would not last forever, so why didn't the government forsee this, build nuclear stations and wind farms and make Britain self sufficient. Too much pussy footing around, its simple soon there will be none, either because its run out or producers/ suppliers threaten to cut the power if we don't pay more.

Anyway i've had my rant on the positive side you never know prices could go down.

The only reservation i have about going on fixed price is that you pay a premium to be on fixed rate, so depending on the increases at the end of the term it could even itself out, plus when it comes to the end of the fixed period what a shock your in for when it comes to the new rates, especially if they have gone up alot.

n+b top post very well thought out

LOONY AND MALBREGA ,you are both scared of the fact you probably work for british gas or n power which are the 2 biggest companys who get the most complaints in my eyes,ny nomination was e.on purely because ive never been of customer of the above 2.

You disagree with what we the CONSUMER OF YOUR PRODUCT are spewing out,but a opinion is just that and when i find out where you work you companies complaints system will go into overload!!

Never said I disagreed with it at all my dear. Some are more than justified, but quite a lot aren't. Energywatch complaints against the company I work for were cut by 90% last year so that's not bad. And of those that were submitted, according to Energywatch 70% were not the suppliers fault. Like I said it's personal responsibility (or lack of it) that can cause problems.

Wonder what sort of weekend EDF staff have had the poor sods.

RED ARMY 2008:

n+b top post very well thought out

LOONY AND MALBREGA ,you are both scared of the fact you probably work for british gas or n power which are the 2 biggest companys who get the most complaints in my eyes,ny nomination was e.on purely because ive never been of customer of the above 2.

You disagree with what we the CONSUMER OF YOUR PRODUCT are spewing out,but a opinion is just that and when i find out where you work you companies complaints system will go into overload!!

Brilliant......lol. So based on a couple of non contentious comments you are going to flood the companies with complaints about .....what exactly?

On that basis did you complain about your own Tax Haven ISA at Barclays?

Classic.

nice to see the idiot is alive and well

Its not a case of me flooding complaints il find them form other customers and encourage them to complain if i thinks its justified,the number of customers who dotn bother complaining is astonishing so if and when i find who they work for il make it my business to encourage their customers to complain if they have good reason.

ive stated previously i dont get involved with savings and therefore dont know anything about what they offer.

RED ARMY 2008:

nice to see the idiot is alive and well

Yes I am glad you are back even under a new name. Were you banned,forgot the password, or held in a straightjacket ?

Its not a case of me flooding complaints il find them form other customers and encourage them to complain if i thinks its justified,the number of customers who dotn bother complaining is astonishing so if and when i find who they work for il make it my business to encourage their customers to complain if they have good reason.

Really!! This I have to see. Exactly what did the posters say wrong.......? I don't like any of the suppliers,they all are incompetent and overcharge. Will you take up a super complaint on my behalf?

ive stated previously i dont get involved with savings and therefore dont know anything about what they offer.

Mmmmm. The point was too subtle for you then? They don't offer much except *** ups.

Amusing as this thread is becoming to the outsider, I would just like to say to Red Army that I agree that there are many with genuine grievances who probably don't complain, but there are many (and I mean LOADS) who complain when they don't have genuine grievances.

Again there is a thread from me on this subject. It involved one story about a woman who moved out and complained (nay screamed at me) that we had sent her a final bill. Not inaccurate by the way- just a final bill. Some of the complaints we do get are NOT valid.