Regional variations in energy prices open up still further

Npower's Standard customers in the Northern England region will now pay close to £100 more than their Scottish counterparts, according to moneysupermarket.com.

Medium users in Northern Scotland will pay £1,010 for gas and electricity, and £1,024 in Southern Scotland, while those in Northern England will pay £1,104. Standard npower customers in the Midlands and Yorkshire will also suffer, paying over £1,080.

Those in London were hit with the biggest increase of 21.7 per cent with North West England and Eastern England also seeing rises around 20 per cent or more.

The research by price comparison site moneysupermarket.com also found the cheapest product on the market – British Gas Click Energy 4 – is £371 less than npower's Standard offering in Northern England over the course of a year for a medium user.

Paul Schofield, head of utilities at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Our table clearly shows why people should swap now. You don't wait in a rising market.

"npower withdrew its excellent SOL8 tariff on December 17, meaning you could no longer apply for it. But those who were already on SOL8 are still enjoying those prices today.

"It is likely to be the same with Click Energy 4. Get on it now because British Gas may well withdraw the product soon."