POWER firms are gearing up for a head-to-head battle as gas competition opens in Oxfordshire next month, writes David Duffy.

From April 24, gas users in the county will be able to switch from British Gas and a war of words has already broken out between a number of new gas supply companies offering cut-price deals.

British Gas, which has lost about 20 per cent of its customers in areas where competition has been opened up is also gearing up to fight back - when electricity supply is opened up for competition.

That was due to start in part of Southern Electric's area in April, but was postponed until the end of the year.

Oxfordshire Trading Standards are warning customers to be on their guard when signing contracts with new suppliers and to read the small print.

The department has produced a leaflet for consumers to help them make an informed choice before signing any contract.

Transco, the company which operates the national gas pipeline system that transports the gas on behalf of all gas suppliers said the supply system and meters would remain unchanged. Transco general manager Jim Attwood, who is based in Didcot, said: "We are delighted to be at the heart of gas competition. For the first time, gas consumers will be able to benefit from choice."

The company also manages the computer databases which allow companies entering the gas market to buy and sell gas and gas users to switch suppliers.

At present competition is only available to 4.5 million customers, but more than one million have already chosen to change their supplier.

Trials of gas competition first started in April 1996 in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Later it was extended to Kent and Sussex.

A gas competition leaflet is available from Oxfordshire Trading Standards Service, PO Box 618, County Hall, Oxford. Transco has also produced a guide to understanding domestic gas competition, called A Guide to Choosing and Using a Gas Supplier, which is available at post offices.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.