A NORTH Yorkshire resident has criticised energy giant npower after facing a 20 per cent increase in his electricity bill.

Keith Stanyon, from Barton, near Darlington, is among hundreds of thousands of customers of the firm who will see their bills go up from March 16.

Npower announced earlier this month that it was raising standard tariff electricity prices by 15 per cent and gas prices by 4.8 per cent.

The move will affect about half of its customers – an estimated 1.4m who are not on fixed tariffs or pre-payment customers.

It prompted energy watchdog Ofgem to call upon the company to justify the decision, while the Government also expressed concern.

Mr Stanyon got in touch with The Northern Echo to complain and said by the firm’s own estimate his annual bill was increasing from £369 to £444.

He said while the unit rate per kilowatt hour was only going up moderately from 16.853 to 17.735p, the standing charge per day was increasing from 11.508p to a “whopping” 27.332p.

Mr Stanyon said of the standing charge: “This is nearly two and-a-half times the existing price."

He added: “We all bust our gut to save energy, as we are instructed to do, so they sting us another way. We can’t win.

“Included with the notice of the price hike is a link to the Citizens Advice Bureau, perhaps the Samaritans may be more appropriate.”

Npower said in a statement: “Having by far the lowest standing charge of any major supplier was unsustainable as we weren’t recovering the majority of the costs associated with delivering electricity into homes.

“The increase brings us in-line with our competitors.”

It added: “We encourage all customers to contact us straight away to discuss whether they’re on the right tariff for their needs.

“We also offer energy saving help and bespoke payment plans for those who are struggling with their energy bills.”

When it announced its “hugely difficult” decision to raise prices, Npower blamed increases in wholesale energy costs and the cost of delivering Government policies such as smart meters and the renewables obligation.

But Middlesbrough-born Business Secretary Greg Clark slammed the price rise and said: "Loyal customers are being taken for granted by the big energy firms."