Scottish Hydro boss brings good news on energy bills

By Terry Murden
Published on Thursday 10 November 2011 00:00

AN energy boss has offered hard-pressed Scottish consumers hope that any rise in next year’s bills will be kept to a minimum.

Scottish Hydro boss Ian Marchant has already promised no further increases until August after raising gas and electricity prices this year by 18 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

Despite a plunge in the company’s profits, Mr Marchant has indicated that rises for customers may be kept low. He said the price of gas that the firm pays has levelled off and the mild weather has eased the situation.

“So the pressure on retail prices is significantly less than for this year. The good news is that prices may not have to go up next year,” he said. Britain’s big energy companies have been in the firing line for raising profit margins to £125 a year from every household, up from just £15 in June, according the energy regulator, Ofgem.

It has pushed the average household energy bill to £1,345.

Scottish Hydro’s parent company, SSE, formerly Scottish & Southern Energy, yesterday reported a 25 per cent plunge in half-year profits, but expects a modest rise over the financial year.

Mr Marchant has instigated a “street fighter” project to improve customer relations by tackling complaints and making tariffs easier to understand.

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