 SCOTTISHPower s owner said the controversial hike in energy charges that it imposed on consumers from august will boost profits in the last quarter after falling demand for electricity weighed on UK earnings in the first nine months.  Iberdrola said it expected profitability to improve in the three months to December, reflecting the increase in prices from 1 august. The subsidiary increased average gas prices by 19% and electricity by 10%.  While all six of the leading UK energy firms have announced price hikes since the summer, the comments will likely spark anger over  ScottishPower s move.  The rise in energy prices has been one of the main causes of the surge in inflation which has put household finances under pressure across the UK.  However, ScottishPower reiterated claims that the price rises were necessary following increases in wholesale gas prices.  ScottishPower pointed to the fact that earnings in its liberalised business, including retail energy supplies, fell by 47% annually in the first nine months, to  229 million (?202m).  It said:  Retail margins were impacted by rising wholesale costs in 2011 which led to ScottishPower passing on these increases to customers in august.  The fall in profits in ScottishPower s liberalised business was offset by an increase in earnings from regulated activities, including power transmission.  Profits in the regulated business increased by 8.5% to  593m (?522.5m).  Bilbao-based Iberdrola said group Ebitda increased by 0.4% annually in the first nine months, to  5,6bn (?5bn), reflecting good performance from its renewable energy operation.  Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Galan said:  Iberdrola remains fully committed to continuing its strategic ambitions for the UK.