Scottish Power raises energy prices as firms are accused of 'pack behaviour' The increase, which takes effect from December 3, means a typical monthly direct debit customer will see their average annual dual fuel bill rise to £1,271. Scottish Power blamed the price rise on increased costs, especially for transporting gas and electricity to customers' homes and the cost of energy efficiency programmes. British Gas and npower announced rises on Friday, while SSE, which trades as Southern Electric, Swalec and Scottish Hydro, increased its tariffs by 9pc today in a rise announced during the summer. Adam Scorer, the director of energy at Consumer Focus, said: "The volley of price rises all coming in during the winter period will fuel consumer concerns about the energy market. Every time this happens it makes it difficult for consumers to believe that price rises are driven by real supply and demand issues. It feels as if companies raise prices in a pack because they see safety in numbers. This does not mean that wholesale price pressures are not real, that companies don't need to make a profit or that companies should not act to minimise the impact of a price rise on their reputation. But there is so much at stake in the energy market at the moment. The fundamental issue on consumer trust is whether or not price rises are justified. He added: "No one welcomes a price rise. But when half the market raises prices in just four days, consumers will question whether this is in response to volatile commodity costs or simply pack behaviour. Consumers believe that a rise in energy prices is the biggest threat to their standard of living over the coming year, according to recent findings from YouGov's Household Economic Activity Tracker. Neil Clitheroe, Scottish Power's chief executive of retail and generation, said: "We work hard to protect our customers and we regret that we've had to announce a price increase today."