NPOWER has become the fourth major UK energy supplier to announce a cut in its gas price - with a 5.2 per cent cut taking effect on 28 March.

The date of the change is likely to bring renewed criticism that prices are cut only towards the end of the coldest months.

The move will mean a £32 average annual cut to customers on a standard domestic gas tariff.

Npower said the fall would benefit about 1.2 million customers.

Paul Coffey, chief executive of Npower, said: "We have balanced the wholesale price fall against increases in the other costs we are charged."

The move follows announcements by E.On, which cut its gas prices by 5.1 per cent on February 1, Scottish Power, which will cut its gas tariff by 5.4 per cent on March 15, and SSE which will introduce a 5.3 per cent cut from March 29.

Npower's customer service and billing headquarters is based at Houghton Le Spring, County Durham.