Moneysupermarket.com Group : Commenting on the price announcements from British Gas and SSE

"The 2012 price war is in full swing, with two energy giants making announcements today. 

"After mounting pressure, British Gas has reduced the cost of single rate electricity by five per cent and SSE has announced a 4.5 per cent cut to the cost of standard gas. 

"Effective immediately, the 5.3 million British Gas single rate electricity customers will see a reduction to their bills of £25. Average standard dual fuel bills for customers paying by cash or cheque are now £1,260.56.  The lack of reduction to the cost of customers' gas bills will be a huge disappointment - especially as British Gas hiked gas prices by 18 per cent in July last year.*

"Effective from March 26th 2012, the move from SSE means a £35.05 cut to the cost of standard gas and results in average standard dual fuel bills for customers paying by cash or cheque of £1,229.95. This move leaves SSE as the second cheapest standard provider behind EDF Energy, after it reduced the cost of gas for its customers yesterday by five per cent.

"Eyes will remain on British Gas to take another step and pass on the savings for its gas customers, especially after two rivals have announced cuts due to falling wholesale prices. It's understandable many consumers will be left confused as to why British Gas is saying it isn't in a position to reduce the cost of gas as well. At a time when energy companies are trying to improve transparency and openness in the industry, these conflicting messages are not helping to rebuild trust.

"Now three of the 'Big Six' energy companies have made announcements the pressure remains on the rest to also pass on the recent falls in the cost of wholesale energy.

"Customers need to take action to give themselves a price reduction by making the switch to a better priced deal; with average savings of £240 to be had by moving from a standard tariff to the cheapest available product, currently iSave v9 from First:Utility with average bills of £1,030 per year.**"

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

* Price rises announced by UK energy companies Summer 2011

Provider	Gas increase (%)	Electricity increase (%)	Average Standard tariff	Date announced	Date effective
Scottish Power	19	10	£1,391.21	07/06/2011	01/08/2011
British Gas	18	16	£1,286.04	08/07/2011	18/08/2011
Scottish and Southern	18	11	£1,265.00	21/07/2011	14/09/2011
E.ON	18	12	£1,254.55	05/08/2011	13/09/2011
npower	16	7	£1,289.00	16/08/2011	01/10/2011
EDF Energy	15.4	4.5	£1,241.00	15/09/2011	10/11/2011
Average	17.4	10.08	£1,287.80

** Standard & Online - New Consumption Rates:

Provider	Average Standard Tariff	Average Online/Best Tariff	Fixed Tariff	Average highest saving against Standard
British Gas	£1,260.56	£1,099.05	£1,150.06	£161.51
		Web Saver 13	Online Fixed
EDF Energy	£1,202.38		£1,080.12	£122.26
	(effective 7th Feb 12)		Fix to March 2013
E.ON	£1,254.55	£1,094.89	£1,189.88	£159.66
		SaveOnline v10	Fixed Price Apr 13
npower	£1,282.43	£1,135.26	£1,077.96	£204.47
		Sign Online 25	Go Fix 10
Scottish Power	£1,391.21	£1,085.57	£1,133.78	£305.64
		Online Energy Saver 17	Online Fixed Price Energy (January 2013)
Scottish & Southern	£1,229.95
	(effective 26th Mar 12)
First Utility		£1,030.03 iSave v9
OVO Energy			£1,059.01 New Energy Fixed (not available in Scottish Hydro region)
Average	£1,270.18	£1,088.96	£1,119.00	£173.55

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