Cash-strapped households could see energy bill price hikes due to recent spikes in wholesale gas and electricity prices.

Irish wind and solar energy company, Mainstream Renewable Power is set to develop a €2bn windfarm off the Scottish coast.

Scottish Power is to cut domestic gas prices by 4.8%, the Big Six energy supplier announced today.

The former chief executive of Bord Gáis, John Mullins, has invested in Irish home technology company Climote and joined the advisory board.

Lower electricity and gas bills helped drag the overall rate of inflation in Britain to a 15-month low last month, official figures showed today.

UK inflation matched its record high last month, official figures revealed today, hitting the British government with a hefty bill for increased state benefits and highlighting the tough conditions faced by households.

Inflation in the UK is expected to hit a three-year high today.

The rate of inflation continued to climb last month, official figures revealed today, as utility bill hikes hit a two-year high and clothing costs saw their biggest increase on record.

The Bank of England is set to keep interest rates at their record low of 0.5% this week after official figures revealed economic growth in the UK slowed between April and June.

Two more major energy suppliers in the UK plan big increases in the price of gas and electricity over the new two weeks, it was reported today.

Inflation in the UK unexpectedly fell last month as retailers cut prices in response to the tightening squeeze on household incomes, figures revealed today.

Millions of British Gas customers are to face higher utility bills after the company said it is putting up the price of both gas and electricity.

The Bank of England is expected to keep UK interest rates at their record low of 0.5% today despite high inflation which is piling misery onto cash-strapped households.

The “big six” power suppliers should sell off up to a fifth of their electricity output in a move to “break the stranglehold” they have over the market in the UK, the British energy watchdog said today.

About 6.5 million npower customers will face higher utility bills from next month as the energy supplier today confirmed a hike in tariffs in the UK.

Plans to build a new nuclear power station at Sellafield were advanced today after a consortium of energy firms bought land earmarked for the development.

Royal Dutch Shell, Dong Energy and Scottish Power have cancelled a joint British wind-energy project, the Sunday Times said.

The bosses of the UK’s six biggest energy firms face a grilling from MPs today as they seek to defend the price hikes imposed on millions of households across the country.

The auction of nuclear power firm British Energy suffered a blow today after it emerged one of the potential suitors had pulled out of the running.

French industrial group Suez confirmed today it was no longer involved in talks over a possible bid for UK nuclear power provider British Energy.

Millions of households faced further pain today after British Gas owner Centrica signalled it may have to make another hike in energy prices.

More customers face higher fuel bills today as energy provider E.ON has become the latest firm to unveil inflation-busting price rises for gas and electricity customers.

Scottish Power today became the latest energy supplier to announce inflation-busting price rises.

Millions of households are bracing themselves for price hikes of 17.2% for gas and 12.7% for electricity which come into effect today.

The major UK power companies are still failing to meet the challenge of climate change, wildlife charity WWF claimed today.

The boss of British industrial conglomerate Smiths today announced his intention to leave the business after more than a decade at the helm.

ELECTRICITY supply giant ESB last night came under fire for announcing a “miserly” drop of €7.66 in household bills.

British Gas owner Centrica today cut prices for a second time this year, with electricity tariffs falling by 6% and gas bills down by 3%.

Takeover speculation and higher metals prices helped drive the London market forward to steady gains today.

A takeover bid for Scottish Power and the dramatic appointment of a new boss at ITV failed to lift the London market today as a weakening US dollar continued to take its toll.

Scottish Power agreed to be taken over by Spain’s Iberdrola today in a €17.1bn move to create Europe’s third largest utility company.

The FTSE 100 Index halted its recent slide today as investors clung to hopes that the market was over the worst of its dollar-led worries.

A raft of corporate activity failed to excite investors in London as the FTSE 100 Index gave up early gains to drift into the red.

The London market gave up its early gains today as a busy corporate calendar failed to excite traders.

A day of frenzied takeover speculation failed to spark the London market as falling metal prices took their toll on the big mining stocks.

A number of takeover developments kept investors on their toes during a solid start to the week for the London market.

Scottish Power shares made fresh gains today amid speculation that a Spanish company could be about to offer £12bn (€17.8bn) for the energy supplier.

The FTSE 100 Index briefly touched 6250 today before drifting into the red ahead of the Bank of England’s decision on interest rates.

The London market slipped into the red today despite a 9% surge in Scottish Power shares after the energy supplier gave details of an approach from an unnamed suitor.

The owner of electricity supplier Powergen said today higher power prices had helped ramp up sales as it stayed on course to hit growth targets.

Rumours of a bid for Scottish Power swept the London market today during an otherwise disappointing session for the FTSE 100 Index.

The London market made further progress today as the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded above 12,000 for the second session running in New York.

Siemens today said it had won a contract worth €350m to supply wind turbines for what it described as Europe’s largest wind farm, to be built in the UK.

Internet gambling stocks dragged the London market into the red today in the wake of anti-gaming legislation passed in the US.