The fifth of the big six energy companies to announce their price plans to customers, EDF Energy has confirmed that they will hike up the price of gas and electricity by 10.8 per cent from 7 December.

The company's three million customers will suffer the biggest increase so far, with the average fuel bill going up by more than £122 to £1,251 a year.

One again, the cost of wholesale energy and the government's energy efficiency schemes have been blamed as the reason for the massive price increase.

EDF director Martin Lawrence said: "We know that customers will not welcome this news and do not want to see prices going up."

He added that the one in five EDF customers on competitive fixed price tariffs will not be affected by the changes this winter.

British Gas, Npower, Scottish Power, and Scottish Southern & Electric have all imposed steep increased in the cost of gas and electricity. E.On is the only energy company yet to reveal the increase in fuel costs to consumers this winter.

Written and Presented by Alfred Joyner