British Gas and EDF Energy reduce their prices

British Gas and EDF Energy have announced price reductions.

British Gas and EDF Energy have become the last of the Big Six providers to lower prices, announcing moves to cut gas bills next month.

Centrica-owned British Gas said it will reduce gas prices by 5.1%, benefiting around 6.8 million customers, while rival EDF Energy is to bring down its standard gas tariff by 5%, making bills cheaper for around 900,000 customers.

The reductions follow announcements by rivals npower, SSE, E.ON and Scottish Power in recent weeks.

But the industry has been criticised for being slow to pass on falls in wholesale gas prices, with consumer groups hitting out at the size and timing of cuts.

Most of the recent reductions will not take effect until early spring.

The British Gas cut will take effect on March 16, while EDF is reducing its prices on March 24.