BRITISH Gas yesterday refused to back down over its objections to plans by the industry's watchdog to force the company to cut household bills by about £30 sterling a year. The gas regulator Ofgas said BG should cut the prices it charges customers of its pipeline and transportation business, TransCo, by between 20 per cent and 28 per cent.

In its official response yesterday the company, which last month warned the price caps would lead to 10,000 job cuts and would put safety at risk, said the price review "would have to be changed".