HOUSEHOLDS will be hit by a gas and electricity bill hike, a power provider in the county announced today.

The Southern Electric price hike will mean on average bills will rise by £2 per week, around £104 a year, from November 15.

Southern Electric said the increase of 8.2 per cent was down to Government-imposed levies, and rising costs of buying and delivering electricity.

The company is pledging not to raise prices again before autumn 2014.

Will Morris, group managing director, retail, said: “We don’t take these decisions lightly.

"We know we will come in for a great deal of criticism for this decision and politicians will no doubt be lining up to condemn us.

"But over many years, policymakers themselves have failed to highlight adequately the cost to consumers of the policies they have pursued in Government.

"They can’t expect to have power stations replaced with new technologies, the network to be upgraded and nationwide energy efficiency schemes all to be funded for free.”