Utility bills are set rise sharply for more than five million households, with the announcement by EDF Energy that it is increasing domestic gas and electricity prices by 22% and 17% respectively from today.

Record wholesale energy costs are to blame, the company says, arguing that it can no longer afford to keep on absorbing the increases. Energy prices have increased by 70% for coal, 63% for gas and 47% for electricity since it last increased its prices.

EDF is the first of the major suppliers to raise prices this summer; others are expected to follow its example. Scottish and Southern warned customers yesterday that it was likely to increase electricity and gas prices.
 
This is the second rise for EDF customers this year: the French company increased gas prices by 12.9% and electricity prices by 7.9% in January.

The average annual bill for dual-fuel EDF customers will rise by £200 to just over £1,200, according to Tim Wolfenden at price comparison website Uswitch.com.

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