London's biggest energy firm to raise bills by £100

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The capital's biggest supplier, EDF Energy, said the cost of its gas will increase by 12.9 per cent and electricity by 7.9 per cent on Friday.

The move infuriated consumer groups who said the "big six" suppliers were far too quick to pass on their rising costs to struggling consumers.

Allan Asher, chief executive of energywatch, called on Gordon Brown to appoint the Competition Commission to investigate whether households were being ripped off.

The French-owned company is the second supplier to raise its prices since the new year. Rival company nPower, which supplies fewer than 300,000 homes in the London area, became the first to move on 4 January.

Other major suppliers including British Gas, Scottish Power and E.On are expected to follow within weeks.

EDF blamed soaring wholesale gas prices and other costs as well as government green "taxes" for the higher household bills.

The increases will add £1.92 a week or £99.84 a year to a typical London bill lifting it to £981.07 a year, making EDF the second most expensive supplier in London after nPower.

Since 2003 its gas prices have risen 94.5 per cent and electricity 66.1 per cent.

Eva Eisenschimmel of EDF Energy said: "We regret any decision to raise prices. Despite soaring wholesale energy prices, higher distribution costs and increased environmental obligations, we have been able to substantially limit the impact on our customers. We will continue to work hard to mitigate the effect of rising costs for our customers."

Mr Asher said: "Consumers will be no more convinced that double digit price rises are justified because all suppliers are pleading poverty rather than one."