As British Gas, the UK's biggest operator, becomes the third power provider to introduce a massive price hike Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White has welcomed Scottish and Southern Energy's (SSE) commitment to freeze prices until at least the start of British Summer Time.

Sandra said that this undermined the argument put forward by the other companies that they will make a loss if they do not introduce huge price increases.
 

By pledging to keep electricity and gas prices for domestic customers at their current levels for the rest of this winter, and until at least the start of British Summer Time, SSE customers will pay on average £175 pounds less than their biggest rivals.

Sandra White who has campaigned for future energy policy to include social tariffs for vulnerable customers said: "This is a welcome announcement and I congratulate SSE on showing a social responsibility to their customers.

"This example clearly demonstrates that the recent high price increases by other energy companies have been engineered to boost profits.

"SSE's decision to freeze their prices adds weight to recent calls for Ofgem to stop dithering and take the action needed to protect those who will be seriously affected by plainly unjustifiable price hikes."