Thursday 7 July 2011
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is holding a meeting with new energy suppliers today to find out what help they need to break the dominance of the Big Six, increase competition and keep energy prices for households down.
Chris Huhne said: "I'm calling a summit of independent energy suppliers so the small guys have an equal chance to bid for your business. We need more competition to keep bills down."
The meeting will be an opportunity for smaller suppliers to set out what they regard as the barriers to entry and growth and to explore issues in the electricity market.
Mr Huhne said UK consumers would benefit: "By meeting directly with the up-and-coming small energy suppliers we can ensure they have a fairer shot at breaking the dominance of the Big Six. I've told my officials to knuckle down with Ofgem and make reforms so consumers can have more choice and better deals for their gas and electricity."
Energy suppliers including Ecotricity, Co-op Energy, First Utility, Good Energy, Ovo Energy, and Utilita are expected to attend the meeting with Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, Energy Minister Charles Hendry, Ofgem Chief Executive Alistair Buchanan, and officials at the Department of Energy and Climate in Whitehall.
The Government is due to publish a White Paper on electricity market reform in the next few days which is expected to re-invigorate the market to help upgrade the UK's aging electricity system.