PETROL PRICES AT 7-YEAR LOW

SCOTS drivers are seeing the lowest fuel prices in seven years, with the cost of petrol and diesel now below £1 a litre at hundreds of forecourts.

Yesterday, as the price of oil briefly fell below $30 a barrel for the first time since April 2004, petrol was being sold at 99.7p per litre and diesel at just 98.9p.

That means the average family car fill-up of 55 litres of petrol would cost £54.84.

Experts says motorists could be in for even more savings soon. An Asda spokesman said: ‘Oil is so volatile. Oil prices have dropped again this week, so potentially fuel prices could go lower in the next couple of weeks or so.’ rip-off bills. Energyhelpline’s Mark Todd said: ‘Energy companies could be doing much more to slash prices.

‘Over the last two years, wholesale prices have come down. This could have been passed through as price cuts of around 25 per cent on gas and 11 per cent on electricity. Yet all loyal customers have seen is an average of 5 per cent off gas bills and nothing off electricity bills.

‘It’s an absolute scandal that larger price cuts have not been passed on.’

Industry analyst ICIS said the wholesale price of gas is at its lowest for six years. It fell 34 per cent in the past year alone, while electricity was down by 23 per cent.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of industry body Energy UK, said wholesale prices made up less than half the average bill.

He added: ‘Energy companies are bringing down their prices, with cheaper tariffs launched almost every week.’