trade, britain s only surviving cloth hall opens after a multi million pound renovation. good morning. it s tuesday 1st august. i m julian worricker. welcome to bbc newsroom live. british gas has said it will increase the price of electricity for the first time in nearly four years. its owner centrica says electricity prices will increase by 12.5% from 15th september. 3.1 million customers will be affected. but the company s gas prices will be held at their current level. the average annual dual fuel bill for households on a standard tariff will rise by £76, up by 7.3%. ian conn is the chief executive of british gas‘s parent company, centrica. he explained why the price rise was necessary despite a decrease in the wholesale cost of energy. first of all, the last time we moved our electricity prices was in january 2014 and since then they have been held flat. from that time, and you are correct, wholesale prices have fallen, we estimate about £36 on an average bill, that i
and the new man at vogue, edward enninful takes over at the premierfashion magazine. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at five. british gas has defended its decision to raise electricity prices by 12.5% for more than three million customers next month. centrica, which owns british gas, said it was facing increased costs from government policies, such as installing smart meters, and for transmission and distribution. it said that as a result, it s selling electricity at a loss. but the government has expressed concern, insisting that its policies don t explain the increase. our business correspondent theo leggett reports. british gas likes to say it s putting its customers in control. we re bringing the nation smarter connected homes. but even if they turn the heating down, those on a standard variable tariff will see their bills going up. after the increases announced today, the cost of an average dualfuel energy bill, that s electricity and gas provided by british gas
and coming up in sportsday on bbc news. the world s greatest sprinter prepares for his final bow. we ll hearfrom usain bolt‘s pre world championships press conference at half past six. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. over three million british gas customers face a hefty rise in their electricity bills. the company argues that it s own costs have risen and from september it will charge 12.5% more for electricity. so what does that mean? well, a typical household on a dualfuel tariff will see its annual bill go up by £76. it s the first increase from british gas for nearly four years but that hasn t stopped consumer groups and the government condemning the move. our business editor, simonjack, reports. electricity, a basic need, a simple product. the same wherever all whoever you buy it from. if you buy from british gas it will be 12.5% more expensive from september as the u:k. s largest more expensive from september as the u: k.‘s largest supplier, more
wheeled scourge of london. police reveal new tactics to tackle the moped crime wave that s hitting the capital. and, as he prepares for life after athletics, what next for the world s fastest ever man? i might go into acting and do some action movies, so that ll give me a rush. you never know. good evening and welcome to bbc news. over three million british gas customers face a hefty rise in their electricity bills. the company argues that it s own costs have risen and from september it will charge 12.5% more for electricity. this means a typical household on a dualfuel tariff will see its annual bill go up by an average of £76. it s the first increase from british gas for nearly four years but that hasn t stopped consumer groups and the government condemning the move. our business editor, simonjack, reports. electricity, a basic need, a simple product. the same wherever or whoever you buy it from. if you buy from british gas, it will be 12.5% more expensive from september.