“Justice not jumpers”: crowds gather in four cities to protest against price hikes by the “big six” energy companies, as new figures show “excess winter deaths” rose by a third last year.
Gary Gibbon
Across Westminster today I found quite a few coalition voices sighing that the government was yet again getting stuck into a week in which it appears to be dancing to Ed Miliband’s tune.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey sets out reforms to the energy market which could see consumers able to switch suppliers within 24 hours – and firms face criminal sanctions.
Gary Gibbon
The boss from Ovo cheeked his bigger energy cousins for remorseless “filibustering” of accounts and said he didn’t know how their wholesale energy costs got so high.
The head of Britain’s “big six” energy companies are questioned by MPs about allegations that they have abused their power over the market by putting up electricity and gas prices.
Leaders of the Unite union have decided to “embrace” a survival plan proposed by the owners of the massive Grangemouth plant. The management have yet to respond.
As the row over energy bills heats up, Nick Clegg warns David Cameron that stripping green levies could cost jobs and reduce support for poor households.
It might sound like the PM wants to lower your energy bill. But according to his own government documents, doing this seemingly popular U-turn would mean it in fact goes up.
The government is to launch a review of the energy sector and green taxes in response to inflation-busting rises in gas and electricity bills.
Gary Gibbon
The announcement of Chinese investment in British nuclear power plants, a hike in electricity prices, warnings of lack of capacity – the energy policy debate will be a mighty saga for a long time.
Energy Minister Greg Barker tells Channel 4 News that consumers are being “robbed” by energy companies, as British Gas announces a 9 per cent bills hike, but insists the government has acted to help.
Chinese-designed nuclear plants could be built in the UK under a deal announced by George Osborne. But is the Chinese system for regulating its nuclear industry really rigorous and incorruptible?
Energy companies reacted with horror to Labour’s pledge to freeze energy bills, saying the move would result in blackouts. But just days later three of the big six are now offering fixed energy bills.
Can a castle or a thatched cottage be eco-friendly? The National Trust thinks so, and is investing £3.5m in a bid to spend less on energy bills and more on conservation.
The SSE scandal has reignited suspicion over pricing and comes as three other energy firms are being investigated. What should consumers do now?