Scottish and Southern

Households that switched to a cheap, fixed energy tariff before the big six suppliers hiked prices this winter will have saved serious cash, research shows.

Most people aged 60 or over can get help towards their energy costs, which can be a vital lifeline for many as winter draws nearer and heating costs rise.

The squeeze on families' spending power was just as strong last month as it was a year earlier, a report found today.

Millions are being walloped by energy price hikes this winter, but it's not just the big headline-making firms upping bills. Hundreds of thousands of households are also being hit by smaller companies increasing costs as well.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), whose customers were hit with bill hikes of 9% last month, says its half-year profits have jumped 38% to nearly £400 million.

EDF has become the fifth of the big six energy firms to announce a price rise just in time for winter. And it's a huge rise.

Energy regulator Ofgem plans to force suppliers to offer their cheapest tariff to customers, in the latest development in the gas and electricity prices saga.

Energy Minister John Hayes has today cast doubt on the Prime Minister's assertion that the Government will force suppliers to give their customers the best possible tariff.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been urged to sort out the energy market, as suppliers pile misery on households with winter price hikes.

Scottish Power has become the fourth of the big six energy firms to announce price rises just in time for winter.