Scottish and Southern Energy, the Perth-based utility group, said it had netted a record 1.05 million new energy customers over its latest trading year. The group which supplies energy as Southern Electric, Swalec, Scottish Hydro Electric and Atlantic Electric and Gas - claimed its 15 per cent growth also represented the best performance by any UK energy supplier. It took the firm’s total to 4.95 million electricity customers and 2.80 million gas customers, making it the UK’s third-biggest energy supplier. SSE also said it had pulled off another milestone for its telecoms business, securing 100,000 customers, following the full launch of its domestic fixed-line service. The group’s chief executive Ian Marchant said the growth in its energy customers had been down to its “responsible pricing” strategy which SSE claims will cut average bills for electricity and gas by five and 12 per cent respectively after two price cuts since March. Yesterday, Scottish Gas chopped its prices for a second time in the last two months, but SEE said that even after its rival’s latest cut, its dual fuel bill was still around £40 a year cheaper.