EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 13 (UPI) -- The Scottish government called on energy regulator Ofgem to examine why consumers are facing soaring energy prices, a minister said.
ScottishPower last week announced it would charge another 19 percent for natural gas and another 10 percent for electricity on average starting Aug. 1.
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has called for an urgent meeting with the utility company to hear why they believe the price is justified. He's called on energy regulator Ofgem to examine the move.
Other energy suppliers could follow suit as prices to rise. Swinney said if that happens, more than 900,000 households would find themselves in a vulnerable situation.
"That is an utter disgrace and simply underlines the urgent need for Scotland to secure responsibility for its own North Sea oil and gas resources, securing billions of pounds of revenue, which would allow us to help offset the worst effects of these price hikes on the poorest households and provide a sustainable and lasting benefit for this country," he said in a statement.
Scotland is advancing an ambitious energy plan that aims to use renewable energy to supply 100 percent of its electricity by 2020.
The renewable energy division of ScottishPower announced Monday it was the first developer in the region to achieve 1 gigawatts of capacity from wind power.
