SSE has confirmed it won’t be increasing standard household energy prices this winter.

The average standard variable dual fuel bill paid by householders annually currently stands at £1,068.

The Big Six supplier said it will be capping prices until at least April 2017.

Will Morris, Managing Director, Retail, at SSE, said: “We understand that the prospect of increasing bills during the colder months is a real concern for customers, particularly as they start to turn up the heating. So today we’re giving them peace of mind that no matter what happens we will not increase our standard household energy prices during the winter, until at least next April.”

Consumer collective TheBigDeal.com however isn’t impressed.

Will Hodson from the organisation said: “SSE think the public are fools. Their standard deal is one of the most expensive tariffs in the country and they want everyone to be delighted that they aren’t raising their price. They charge £300 more than the cheapest deals on the market. SSE should be cutting bills not trying to claim credit for freezing them for a few months.”

According to TheBigDeal.com, Avro Energy offers the cheapest standard variable tariff at £883 a year.

Among the Big Six, EDF’s two-year fixed price tariff stands at £870 annually while the average British Gas standard variable customer pays £1,044 per year.

SSE’s one-year fixed tariff costs £982 while its three-year fixed tariff stands at £1,035 a year.

Price comparison website uSwitch.com welcomed the news as it “gives customers on its standard variable tariff peace of mind”.

However energy expert Claire Osborne added many customers would be better off switching as there are cheaper tariffs available on the market.