Smaller power firms rival Big Six with significant cuts in gas price war

The Energy Secretary has warned big power firms that they "can't hide", after one of their smaller rivals offered more than double the price cut of the so-called Big Six companies.

Today's price drop means that while the average customer of the major firms will see a four per cent reduction in gas prices, customers of Ovo will see a drop of 10.4 per cent.

Now consumer groups are urging companies to drop prices further - and extend their reductions to electricity prices.

The Big Six energy provider EDF is to cut gas prices by 1.3%, the firm has announced.

SSE is to reduce household gas prices by 4.1% on April 30 before extending its energy price freeze until at least July 2016.

It is the latest energy firm to announce a cut in gas prices.

British Gas announced a five per cent cut in prices, npower is to cut its standard tariff by an average of 5.1%, E.ON reduced tariffs by 3.5 per cent, and Scottish Power announced a 4.8 per cent drop in prices starting February 20.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey has urged homeowners to cash in on the gas price war and switch suppliers to get the best possible price.

As npower becomes the latest Bix Six energy firm to slash bills, with a cut of 5.1 per cent, the Lib Dem MP also urged SSE and EDF to follow suit and cut tariffs.

It comes amid plummeting wholesale costs, with Ofgem revealing prices have fallen by 19 per cent year-on-year.

More gas bill cuts could be on the cards if wholesale prices continue to fall, bosses at energy firm npower have promised.

Chief executive Paul Massara vowed that bills would be kept under review - and said the firm had cut tariffs as much as possible amid plummeting wholesale prices, while reflecting increasing costs elsewhere.

The announcement of a 5.1 per cent price cut by npower - the largest drop of the Big Six firms - comes as wholesale energy prices fall by around 19 per cent.

Energy giant npower has become the latest firm to announce a cut in gas prices.

From February 16, the supplier will cut its standard gas tariff by an average of 5.1 per cent - the biggest price cut of its competitors - benefiting its 1.3 million customers by around £35 a year.

It comes after British Gas announced a five per cent cut in prices, E.ON reduced tariffs by 3.5 per cent, and Scottish Power announced a 4.8 per cent drop in prices starting February 20.

It means more than half of the so-called Big Six energy firms have now reduced tariffs this month, in line with a sharp fall in wholesale costs.

SSE and EDF have not yet announced any changes.

Scottish Power has become the latest energy firm to reduce gas prices, after announcing a 4.8% cut from February 20.

The firm, owned by Spain's Iberdrola, said the cut will reduce annual gas bills on a standard tariff by £33.

It also announced a new fixed-price deal which it said was one of the most competitive in the marketplace with an average dual-fuel bill of £930.

It comes a day after British Gas announced a 5% cut in prices and a week after E.ON reduced prices by 3.5%.

Half of the so-called Big Six energy firms have now reduced tariffs this month in line with a sharp fall in wholesale costs.

SSE, npower and EDF have not yet announced any movement in their pricing structure.

British Gas say a 5% reduction in gas prices is "as much as we could as fast as we could".

Christine McGourty, Director of Corporate Affairs, said: "The 5% cut is greater than any other cut in the market so far."

The energy firm, who have benefitted from falling wholesale gas prices, will only reduce bills from the end of next month.

They were accused of "double standards" after hiking prices with immediate effect when wholesale prices rose in 2008.

ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi reports:

British Gas will have to live with the fact that many of their customers won't be jumping for joy over this news.

The wholesale market has been dropping for months, with wholesale costs for the next 12-month contracts down 28%.

In that context, this 5% drop can look a little bit mealy-mouthed.

The remaining big six companies that have not dropped prices yet have not given any firm signals that they will reduce prices.

If you look at when British Gas raised its prices by 35% in 2008, the new tariff came into force with immediate effect.

Today's reduction won't come in until the end of next month - some people will see that as an unfair contradiction.