Consumer groups in the UK today welcomed the first British Gas domestic price cuts in seven years and called on other energy firms to follow suit.

The founders of the UK price comparison website simplyswitch.com were set for a windfall today after they agreed to sell the business to the owners of the Daily Mail for £22m (€32.7m).

Plans for a “clean coal” power plant in England are being looked at by npower, it was announced today.

British Gas owner Centrica will fuel anger today over spiralling energy bills by revealing it banked profits of around £1.5bn (€2.2bn) in 2005.