This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/6606581.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
EDF to lower its gas bills by 10% Power firms to reduce fuel bills
(about 2 hours later)
EDF Energy has become the latest energy supplier to announce a price cut, saying it will reduce its gas bills by more than 10%. Scottish Power and EDF Energy have become the latest energy suppliers to announce significant price cuts.
It said the move, which comes into effect on 15 June, will cut the average bill of those customers who buy both gas and electricity by £63 a year. Scottish Power said it will reduce domestic gas bills by up to 16.5% from 15 June, with electricity bills set to fall by as much as 6%.
But the French-owned firm said it would not be reducing its electricity prices. EDF Energy, meanwhile, said it will trim its gas bills by more than 10%, and keep electricity prices the same.
Last week, energy watchdog Ofgem publicly urged EDF customers to switch supplier in order to save money. Energy watchdog Ofgem had accused the firms of failing to pass on this year's decline in wholesale energy prices.
Industry-wide cutsIndustry-wide cuts
Ofgem said EDF and Scottish Power had failed to pass on this year's reduction in wholesale prices. Last week, energy watchdog Ofgem publicly urged EDF customers to switch supplier in order to save money.
We listen very carefully to what our customers are telling us EDF boss Vincent de Rivaz EDF said their pricing move, which comes into effect on 15 June, will cut the average bill of those customers who buy both gas and electricity by £63 a year.
EDF's announcement means that Scottish Power is now the only firm among the "big six" UK energy suppliers not to have cut prices since British Gas first reduced its bills in February. onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6607383, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6600000/newsid_6607300/', nbram: 1,bbram: 1,nbwm: 1,bbwm: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6600000/newsid_6607300?redirect=6607383.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1"> De Rivaz interview
All the "big six" UK energy suppliers have now vowed to cut prices since British Gas first reduced its bills in February.
EDF - which has 5.5 million UK customers - said it would not be reducing its electricity prices because its electricity bills saw the smallest price rises compared with competitors last year.EDF - which has 5.5 million UK customers - said it would not be reducing its electricity prices because its electricity bills saw the smallest price rises compared with competitors last year.
The firm's chief executive, Vincent de Rivaz, described its cut in gas prices as a "sensible move".The firm's chief executive, Vincent de Rivaz, described its cut in gas prices as a "sensible move".
"We listen very carefully to what our customers are telling us," he said."We listen very carefully to what our customers are telling us," he said.
"Over recent years our customers have benefited from our careful management which has protected them from the highest prices.""Over recent years our customers have benefited from our careful management which has protected them from the highest prices."
Power slide?Power slide?
However, some analysts questioned whether EDF was right not to also cut electricity prices, wondering whether it will lose customers as a result.However, some analysts questioned whether EDF was right not to also cut electricity prices, wondering whether it will lose customers as a result.
Price comparison website Energyhelpline was also critical that EDF is not introducing the gas price cut immediately.
British Gas announced a further price cut last week, reducing its electricity bills by an additional 6% and gas by 3%, with immediate effect.British Gas announced a further price cut last week, reducing its electricity bills by an additional 6% and gas by 3%, with immediate effect.
The UK's other main electricity and gas suppliers are Npower, Powergen, and Scottish & Southern Energy.The UK's other main electricity and gas suppliers are Npower, Powergen, and Scottish & Southern Energy.