EDF ENERGY CUTS GAS BILLS BY 5%

One of the UK's major energy suppliers offered a glimmer of hope for cash-strapped households today by announcing a cut in tariffs.

EDF Energy increased its gas bills by 15.4% in November but said it would now cut them by 5% after a 9.2% decline in the one-year wholesale gas price.

The move follows speculation over the weekend that British Gas owner Centrica was considering a 10% reduction in households energy bills.

EDF said it was the last of the major suppliers to raise its energy prices in the autumn and is the first to announce a cut.

Chief executive Vincent de Rivaz said: "What customers want more than anything else is fair, clear and transparent prices.

"We know they want action rather than words. That is why we are the first major supplier to announce a cut and were the last to increase prices."

The move comes on the day that an annual energy company satisfaction survey carried out by Which? showed that EDF finished second bottom in a table of the biggest six energy suppliers. Only 43% of its customers said they were satisfied with the company's service or likely to recommend it to others.

The result comes after the introduction of a new billing system led to a surge in complaints from customers.

EDF said an average dual fuel bill customer with typical consumption paying by monthly direct debit will face a bill of £1,137 a year, compared with the current figure of £1,218 a year for British Gas.

©Press Association

WELSH MPS FACE 25% SEAT CUTS

Welsh MPs are braced for proposals being announced tomorrow to slash their ranks by 25%.

The Boundary Commission for Wales will be spelling out how it plans to reduce the number of the principality's Westminster constituencies from 40 to 30.

This is part of a UK-wide package to cut the MPs' total to 600, down from the current 650, in a coalition Government bid to iron out discrepancies.

Commissioners are required to keep constituency electorates within 5% of the UK average - with a 72,810 floor and an 80,473 ceiling.

Welsh rural constituencies could be among the most vulnerable under the changes in contrast to elsewhere in the UK where urban areas have tended to lose out.

North west Wales currently returns MPs for Aberconwy, Arfon, Clwyd West, Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Ynys Mon but their combined electorates would only qualify for three seats under the rules imposed on the commission.

Ynys Mon is not protected by its island status and, unlike the Isle of Wight, Na h-Eileanan an Iar and Orkney and Shetland, will have to take in territory from the mainland.

It will be difficult for media, political and academic experts to make definitive predictions of the shake-up's effect on party performance until at least 2013.

The speeded-up consultation and review process will involve examination by the commission of written representations on its initial proposals and comments in public hearings.

It will then produce revised plans.

Further written representations will be considered on these before the commission draws up final recommendations.

Final reports have to be sent to Parliament by October 2013.

Provisional proposals for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were announced last year.