British Gas disputes claim on customers switching

British Gas yesterday cast doubt on claims by Ofgas, the industry watchdog, that 400,000 of the company's customers in Scotland and the North-east of England would switch to rival suppliers when domestic competition goes live from tomorrow. A further 2.5 million homes will be able to desert British Gas, now the brand name of the Centrica group, on top of 2 million taking part in competition trials in the South of England.

Ofgas claimed one in six households had signed contracts with new suppliers, but British Gas said the true figure was one in 18 homes. "We would categorically disagree with the numbers. No more than 150,000 people will leave us over the next few weeks," said a spokeswoman. Ofgas said it stood by its figure, adding that tomorrow's phase of competition looked set to be the most successful so far. Eastern Group, the regional electricity company, has claimed it has signed up 200,000 customers in Scotland and the North East.