Another energy company puts up its prices

The supplier, which was launched in May and is owned by the Midcounties Co-operative society, said gas and electricity prices will by rise 18 per cent and 11 per cent respectively from November 3.

The company, which has 14,000 customers and claims to be an ethical energy provider, blamed the increases on rising wholesale energy costs, charges for distribution and levies to fund renewable energy investment.

All the big six energy companies have recently announced a second round of price rises after bills went up over the winter.

Co-operative Energy claims it will still be one of the cheapest suppliers. Business development manager Nigel Mason said it did not want to put up prices but was affected by the same pressures as the rest of the energy industry.