Today (Thursday 27th August), British Gas will implement a 5% cut to its standard gas tariff, representing a £35 a year reduction on bills for 6.9 million customers. The move follows an earlier 5% reduction to gas prices in February. Commenting on today’s cut, Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at Uswitch.com, says: “It beggars belief that customers are still waiting for other major energy suppliers to follow British Gas’ lead by making further price cuts to standard tariffs. With wholesale energy prices at a five year low, suppliers who are refusing to reduce bills further have a lot of explaining to do.
“A second wave of cuts will not only help cash-strapped consumers, but would also be an olive branch signalling the industry’s commitment to rebuilding trust and confidence with its customers.
“Although British Gas’ price cut is welcome, its average dual fuel standard tariff customer will see their annual bill cut by less than 3%. Single digit reductions in bills fall well short of the double digit drop in wholesale energy prices.
“Even after today’s price cut, there is a £320 a year difference between British Gas’ standard tariff and the cheapest deal on the market, so many of its customers would be better off by switching.”
Big six suppliers’ standard plan price changes 2015
| Supplier | Change | Effective | | E.ON | Gas: down 3.5% | 13th January | | British Gas | Gas: down 5%
Gas: down 5%
| 27th February
27th August
| | ScottishPower | Gas: down 4.8% | 20th February | | npower | Gas: down 5.1% | 16th February | | SSE | Gas: down 4.1% | 30th April |
Source: Uswitch.com. Correct as of 27th August, 2015
Big six suppliers’ standard plan prices
| Supplier | Plan name | Standard plan (paying on receipt of bill) | Standard plan (paying by monthly direct debit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Gas | Standard | £1,190 | £1,129 | ||
| E.ON | E.ON Energy Plan | £1,215 | £1,145 | ||
| EDF Energy | Standard (variable) | £1,228 | £1,155 | ||
| SSE | Standard | £1,238 | £1,158 | ||
| ScottishPower | Standard | £1,251 | £1,166 | ||
| npower | Standard | £1,264 | £1,169 |
Source: Uswitch.com. Prices correct as of 27th August, 2015
Jason Wakeford
Phone: 0203 872 5612
Email: jason.wakeford@uswitch.com
Twitter: @UswitchPR
The cheapest deal on the market (excluding collective switch schemes) as of 27th August 2015 is GB Energy Supply’s variable ‘Premium Energy Saver’ tariff at £870 a year, based on average energy consumption and paying by Direct Debit.
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