SSE to cut gas prices by five per cent – but MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis blasts move as “trivial”
SSE has become the latest energy provider to cut gas prices for British consumers, agreeing to drop prices on its standard tariff by 5.3 per cent.
The cut, which comes into effect from 29 March, is being introduced ahead of the end of its price freeze, which was to run until the summer.
SSE estimates that this price cut – its third in two years – will save a typical household £32 per year. It follows E.On, which cut its prices last week.
Will Morris, group managing director of retail at SSE, said: ““Wholesale energy prices account for an ever-smaller proportion of the bill and there are different cost issues affecting electricity and gas, but I am pleased that we will be able to bring down gas prices three months before our current price freeze is due to end.
“Price is clearly important to customers but so is customer service and we continue to invest in this area. We’re proud to have a great track record in the industry when it comes to complaints according to Citizens Advice and look forward to driving further improvements in the year ahead.”
But not everyone was impressed.
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com and its spin off Cheap Energy Club, said: "Baaaah. SSE has bleated and followed E.On’s price cut last week, the rest of the big six sheep will likely soon follow. And again it’s just a trivial five per cent on gas only not electricity, nothing close to the drop in wholesale prices.
"Energy firms must be whooping for joy that they can get away with such small cuts and have the energy minister praising them, albeit slightly.
"Yet the real picture here is that even after cuts the vast majority of households in the UK are massively overpaying for their energy…. The message is quite simple, you’re being ripped off; don’t wait, don’t think ‘hurrah prices are dropping’ do a cheap energy comparison and ditch and switch now."