scottish and southern increase prices

The last of the major energy suppliers followed suit by increasing it’s Gas and Electricity prices. The price rise will come into force on April 1st 2008. Scottish and Southern are the last major supplier to announce an increase, blaiming an increase in wholesale price for the rise.

Gas prices will rise by approx £85 per year and electricity by approx £50 according to Uswitch. A dual fuel bill will increase by approx £131 per year.

Scottish and Southern follow NPower, EDF Energy, British Gas, EON and Scottish power who have all increased the price of it’s gas and electricity.

Since the start of the year, Npower has put prices up for its electricity customers by 12.7% and gas prices rose by 17.2%. EDF put up electricity tariffs by 7.9% and gas prices by 12.9%.

British Gas increased gas and electricity prices by 15%. Scottish Power increased gas bills by 15% and electricity bills by 14%, and E.On put up gas bills by 15% and electricity tariffs by 9.7%.

childminder annual fee hike

Some childminders could be put out of business by a hike in their annual fees, according to the National Childminding Association.
The annual fee needed to register to look after children aged five to seven is due to go up from £15 to £103.

But campaigners claim the increase this year will damage childminders’ finances and be the final straw for some.

A three-month consultation period by the government on pushing up the price ends next week.