British Gas: Energy price rises necessary

Phil Bentley, British Gas managing director, defends energy price rises:

"We know there is never a good time to raise prices, but we are buying in a global energy market and have to pay the market rate.

"Rising wholesale costs is an issue facing all energy suppliers. Our advice to customers is to wait and see what happens in the energy retail market as a whole before making any decisions about switching supplier.

"In the mean time, they should get in touch with us and ask about the simple ways we're offering to help keep bills under control."