Calls for the Government to axe green policies in the hope of bringing down the price of energy are "short-sighted and foolish", Business Secretary Vince Cable said. Energy company SSE increased tariffs yesterday by an average of 8.2% from November.
The 8.2% rise in SSE bills is "disappointing" but "for the company to justify", an energy minister has said.
Conservative Michael Fallon hoped "customers would look very carefully" at tariffs and think of switching if bills became unmanageable.
However, he hinted there would be no Government intervention and instead wanted to create more competition under the 2013 Energy Bill, which is already making its way through Parliament.
After SSE announces gas and electricity tariffs will prices will rise next month, other big energy firms refuse to rule out own price hikes.
Some tips on how to save money on your energy bills.