SSE and British Gas cut energy prices
12 January 2012
As British Gas and SSE announce price cuts to household energy bills, Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, says:
“British Gas and SSE customers will welcome any help to manage their bills this winter. But with average bills now more than £1300 a year, small reductions of around £30 will not be a solution for those struggling to pay their next bill.
“With three price cut announcements in two days, we now expect the other major suppliers to listen to their customers and do likewise. But this won't be enough to ensure that people get access to the affordable energy they need. That's why consumers expect the Government to take action to reform the energy market*.”
Notes to Editor
The Which? switching service, Which? Switch, has been set up to give a transparent, impartial view of all current gas and electricity tariff options. Go to www.which.co.uk/switch or call 01992 822 867 to find the cheapest deals available from each supplier.
*Which? wants:
- Simple energy tariffs that consumers will be able to understand and compare at a glance
- Government and energy companies to work with us to provide clear information to consumers about how they can take action and manage their rising energy bills
- An end to dodgy sales and marketing practices
- More competition in the energy market, so that consumers have a real choice
British Gas has today announced an average 5% reduction in its standard domestic electricity prices, to take effect immediately. Customers on single rate electricity tariffs will save an average £24 on their annual electricity bill. This follows price increases of 18% to gas and 16% to electricity announced in July 2011.
SSE has announced it will cut its unit price for household gas by 4.5% from 26 March 2012. Around 3.5 million households in Britain will benefit from the reduction, which will cut typical gas bills by around £28 a year. This follows price increases of 11% for electricity 18% for gas announced in July 2011.
