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British Gas announced

18% and increases from 16% to the price for gas and electricity, Scottish & Southern Energy has suspended all sales at home, with the loss of 900 jobs

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British Gas has surprised

households in the UK to announce an increase in the price of gas and electricity by 18% and 16%, only eight months after it increased its prices by 7 %.

The increase, which affects 9 million customers and to be effective August 18, has prompted Energy Minister Chris Huhne at the request of trade taking place in the market of the electricity in the UK.

At a time when households are faced with the cost of food in the midst of inflation remain high, the price increase will add £ 192 to the invoice average fuel double, which will rise from £ 1096 to £ 1,288 thereafter.

Mike O'Connor, Executive Director of Consumer Focus, said: "The price increase will send shock waves throughout the country the impact on customers will be very serious and has accumulated more pressure budgets Y. highly stretched households pushing hundreds of thousands of families in fuel poverty. "

The news comes the same day as Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) announced it was suspending all its doors sales activity in Britain, with immediate effect, resulting in 900 jobs. Two months ago, the utility giant was found guilty of misleading potential customers at doorstepping in an attempt to get them to change supplier of gas and electricity, after a successful prosecution by trading standards.

SSE

the Commission based on sales at home "is no longer an effective way to gain long-term customer" as consumer confidence in the way companies sell door to door, and how providers are paid is low. He said it would close its doors on sales of arms because the sales process "with the due guarantees quality customer requires more and more important."

Alistair Phillips-Davies

of SSE, said: "The world has changed .. We know that fewer people are willing to commit to traditional vendors is "

Richard Lloyd, executive director in which he congratulated SSE:. "Few people think about energy suppliers are trustworthy, so it's good news that the ESS is listening to consumers and attempt to restore its reputation as suppliers of energy policy have their home sales, it is important not just move their efforts to other forms of cold calling.

"We found that almost half (44%) of people were on the phone for an energy company in the past 12 months, and six in 10 felt compelled to change , so that suppliers should focus on high-value products and customer service, rather than hard sell. "

Bad timing, but not surprising, "

said there was no danger that the measure could result in the other four major suppliers to do the same with the price increases - the first round of the increases that ended in March to hit nearly 28 million customers and £ 630m in energy bills added to the house.

Robinson said: "The impact on family budgets will be enormous, but it will be difficult for people living on fixed incomes, and we urge the government and suppliers to start thinking now about how can provide some support.

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