Houghton and Sunderland MP, Bridget Phillipson has warned of the dangers an increase in energy bills could mean for local people, as the fifth of the big six energy providers raise their prices.

NPower is the latest energy provider to raise its prices, after British Gas, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern electricity and E.ON announce similar rises. NPower’s 3.3 million customers are expected to see a 7% rise in electricity and 15.7% in the price of gas from October.

Bridget has already written to the Chancellor, George Osborne, to demand the government take action to support hard-pressed families in light of these increase.

Speaking on Spark FM Bridget called on the Government to take steps to reduce fuel poverty. She said:

“When people are facing energy prices such as they are, the government needs to be supporting families, not further penalising them.”

You can listen to the full interviewhere.

Keen to understand how the local community will be affected by the price rise, Bridget is also asking local people for their views. Having detailed information on the impact of energy price rises on local residents will help in campaigning for the energy companies to be referred to the competition commission.

To take part in Bridget’s energy survey emailbridget.phillipson.mp@parliament.ukand details will be sent.