POWER MAD

Campaigners fear 'devastating' effect on household budgets

- DAN VEVERSDAN VEVERS

HARD-UP Scots are set to be hit by a "devastating" rise in energy costs.

Prices will soar in October after regulator Ofgem raised the price cap by 10 per cent.

It sparked fears vulnerable groups such as pensioners will be further plunged into fuel poverty hell in the run-up to winter and forced to choose between eating or heating.

One campaigner said: "It's going to have a devastating effect on household budgets."

A typical household's annual energy bill will rise by £149 in October under the new price cap to £1717 a year.

That's 10 per cent higher than current levels.

Ofgem explained the price cap rise is due to higher prices in the international energy market, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and extreme weather inflating demand for gas.