LONDON, Oct 12 (KUNA) -- Millions of families in the UK are facing an average six percent jump in their household energy bills after British Gas confirmed Friday increases to its gas and electricity prices.

The company's decision means the average British Gas annual dual-fuel bill will go past the 1,300 pound mark - rising by 80 pound.

It blamed higher wholesale prices and the rising cost of updating the National Grid network but consumer groups warned the increase would throw households' already stretched budgets into "turmoil." British Gas is the second of the so-called "big six" to increase its charges before the winter.

It had warned in May that its costs were rising, with wholesale gas prices 15 percent higher and other charges set to add about 50 pound to the cost of supplying households.

Rival SSE is due to increase its tariffs by nine percent on average from next Monday, hitting about five million electricity customers and 3.4 million gas customers.

Of the others only E.ON have pledged not to raise prices for the remainder of 2012.

Npower, EDF Energy and Scottish Power have not made any promise that they will not increase prices by the end of the year.