Two more energy firms follow EDF with price cuts

Two more energy suppliers cut their prices today after EDF Energy sparked a price war by announcing it will slash gas bills by 5 per cent.

The UK’s biggest supplier British Gas, which trades as Scottish Gas north of the Border, cut electricity prices by 5 per cent in a move that will reduce the bills of 5.3 million customers.

The price cut will take effect immediately and will knock £24 from the average bill - six months after the Centrica-owned company increased gas bills by 18 per cent and electricity by 16 per cent in August.

While British Gas said there was no reduction in its gas price, Southern Electric and Swalec owner SSE said later that it would cut the price of household gas by 4.5 per cent from 26 March.

Other operators are expected to follow suit.