Last of ‘big six’ cuts power bills

ScottishPower has become the last of the “big six” energy providers to reduce its bills, cutting gas tariffs by 5 per cent.

E.On also acted yesterday, cutting its electricity charges by 6 per cent.

ScottishPower’s cut will see the average customer’s dual-fuel bills fall by about £36, while the reduction in E.On’s tariff will mean a saving of £33. The four other major energy providers all cut their charges last week.

Consumer groups welcomed the news but said the full benefit of wholesale price cuts was not being passed on to customers.

“We hope this recent series of price reductions means that suppliers are waking up to the need for customers to see rapid cuts when wholesale prices are lower,” said Trisha McAuley, of Consumer Focus Scotland.

“Customers will still be paying a lot more for their energy than they were a year ago and there will still be nearly a million households in Scotland living with the misery of fuel poverty.”