A second big energy supplier has hinted that gas and electricity prices may rise steeply this year. Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) said its household gas business had been losing money, with a 25 per cent rise in wholesale prices last year outgaining December's 9% rise. SSE warned that wholesale gas and electricity prices for the coming year had gone up since then by as much as 33%. Earlier, rival firm Centrica — which owns British Gas — said its customers may face rising energy bills.