Utilita freezes winter prices

Utilita Energy has become the second independent supplier to commit to freeze winter prices for customers.

The hold on all of its gas and electricity tariff prices will last until at least April 2017 and follows a freeze from Good Energy announced in October. Three of the big six suppliers, SSE, British Gas and Eon have also promised not to increase prices.

The news comes amid speculation that independent suppliers may not survive current wholesale price volatility after GB Energy Supply was forced to cease trading last month. Before the firm went bust it had raised prices for customers by 30 per cent.

Ovo and Ecotricity also both hiked prices this year, most recently by 5 per cent and 5.7 per cent respectively.

Utilita chief executive Bill Bullen said: “We do all we can to give our customers the fairest deal possible so I am delighted we can reassure them they will not be paying more this winter – we will continue to do everything in our power to help Britain’s hard-pressed families.

“We have seen many other suppliers – large and small – increase their prices in recent weeks, creating uncertainty and fear for many of their customers. Utilita’s customers will not have those same worries this winter.”

The independent celebrated reaching 450,000 customers this week – up from 200,000 in July 2015.