Citizens Advice responds to SSE price rise

Citizens Advice has responded to SSE announcing that it will raise the price of its annual dual fuel standard variable tariff by 6.9%, with electricity bills rising by 14.9%, from April.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“Energy firms have been lining up to increase their loyal customers’ bills.“SSE is the latest supplier to announce that it will ramp up electricity prices for its customers who are not on a fixed deal. A large majority of SSE customers are on the more expensive standard variable tariff, with most of them set to be paying even more with this latest price rise.

“Setting up a fund to support vulnerable customers is a welcome step to help some of those who can least afford bills going up. But people need more certainty that their energy firms will not continue to exploit their loyalty.

“The government could take an important first step to remove the penalty people pay for their loyalty by extending the prepayment meter price cap to standard variable tariff customers who are eligible for the Warm Homes Discount."

-ends- 

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, 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 get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.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. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication  Advice trends .

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.