British Gas consumers 'better off on standard rate'

A clutch of fixed-price energy deals come to an end on April 30, but customers of one company could actually be better off on its standard variable tariff.

British Gas, Npower, First: Utility and iSupply Energy all have tariffs that come to an end on the final day of the month, according to price comparison website GoCompare. But customers of British Gas will see their bills fall by an average 3.18 per cent, because its standard rate is now cheaper than the expiring tariffs.

Customers of the other providers could see their energy bills rise by an average of £91.05 or 9.4 per cent as they are rolled on to standard tariffs.

Jeremy Cryer, the website's energy spokesperson, said it was still worthwhile for British Gas customers to shop around. "The energy market is extremely competitive at the moment and there are some great fixed deals available," he said, pointing out that the top 10 cheapest tariffs all cost less than £1,000 a year based on average energy usage.

The "big six" suppliers that dominate the UK energy market cut their prices at the start of this year after substantial falls in the wholesale prices of gas and electricity. But they have also faced intense regulatory scrutiny and have been losing market share to smaller suppliers as the switching process is streamlined.

They have also been subject to political pressure, with the Labour party pledging to reduce energy bills by 10 per cent if it wins May's general election.

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