SSE to cut standard gas prices but why do customers have to wait until after Easter?

• SSE reduces standard gas prices by 5.3% cutting £32 from the average gas bill – but not until 29th March

• The cut follows last week’s 5.1% reduction to E.ON’s standard gas tariffs

• Uswitch.com renews calls for standard dual fuel plan cuts from the big six of at least 10% – around £120 – to reflect low wholesale energy prices.

SSE has today announced a 5.3% cut to standard gas prices, following reductions announced last week by rival E.ON. Commenting on the news, Uswitch.com Director of Consumer Policy, Ann Robinson, says: “Not only is this another token-gesture cut but why should customers have to wait until after Easter to see reductions to their bills?

“Lower prices are good news but prices can and should be cut much further. Consumers should be seeing bill reductions of at least 10% – around £120 a year – on both gas and electricity, given record low wholesale costs.

“As three of the big six suppliers have now lowered standard prices twice since the start of 2015, the pressure is now well and truly on EDF, npower and ScottishPower to follow suit.

“Rather than waiting for meagre price cuts, big six standard plan customers should switch to cheaper fixed deals, saving more than £320 a year.”

Big six suppliers’ standard plan price changes 2015/2016

| Supplier | Change | Effective | | E.ON | ·         Gas: down 3.5%

·         Gas: down 5.1%

| ·         13th January 2015

·         1st February 2016

| | EDF | ·         Gas: down 1.3% | ·         11th February 2015 | | British Gas | ·         Gas: down 5%

·         Gas: down 5%

| ·         27th February 2015

·         27th August 2015

| | ScottishPower | ·         Gas: down 4.8% | ·         20th February 2015 | | npower | ·         Gas: down 5.1% | ·         16th February 2015 | | SSE | ·         Gas: down 4.1%

·         Gas: down 5.3%

| ·         30th April 2015

·         29th March 2016

|

Source: Uswitch.com. Correct as of 28th January, 2016