HOUSEHOLDS in the north and north-east will bear the brunt of Scottish Gas price rises.
They will end up paying far more than people in other parts of the UK when the energy giant increases its tariffs next month.
Owner Centrica announced it will raise dual-fuel bills by an average 9.2% from November 23, affecting 7.8million homes.
The price charged for electricity will rise by 10.4%, and the price of gas will go up by 8.4%.
But regional variations mean bills in the north of Scotland – where electricity is distributed by Scottish Hydro – will soar by as much as 11.2%
That compares with customers in London, who will be charged an extra 10.6%, and households in Yorkshire, which will be charged an extra 10.5%.
Centrica, which trades as Scottish Gas north of the border and British Gas in the rest of the UK, claimed the variations reflected the network costs the company pays in different areas.
But Norman Kerr, of charity Energy Action Scotland, warned last night that the “extremely disappointing” news would bring “misery and despair to thousands of families” across the north.
David Stewart, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations policy manager, said: “We already know a third of households in Scotland are living in fuel poverty, often facing a choice between heating and eating.”
Centrica blamed the increases on the rising cost of wholesale energy, government energy initiatives and higher network charges for providing power to homes.
Fuel blow hits hard, Page 13