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The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP's statement on EDF price rise

Commenting following EDF’s price announcement on 15 September 2011, Energy and Climate Change Secretary The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP said: “I …

• From: Department of Energy & Climate Change and The Rt Hon Chris Huhne
• Published: 15 September 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Commenting following EDF’s price announcement on 15 September 2011, Energy and Climate Change Secretary The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP said:

“I am determined to make sure that we get the best deal for British energy consumers. That means making it easier for people to shop around and switch supplier to get the best deals, boosting competition to help keep prices down, and insisting energy companies insulate millions of homes by next year.

“I want to see greater protection for consumers and I want to put small companies on an equal footing with the bigger players in the energy sector. The coalition government is bringing about greater openness in energy markets and will strengthen competition - that’s good news for both business and consumers.”

On 12 July 2011 The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP published a White Paper on Electricity Market Reform, which was a critical moment in keeping the lights on, consumer bills down and shifting the UK economy away from a high-risk, high-carbon future

• Read the DECC press notice on the EMR White Paper

DECC Ministers have also taken a number of other recent steps aimed at ensuring consumers get a better deal:

• 7 September: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP urges householders to insulate their homes and presses the Big Six to redouble efforts to meet insulation targets

• 8 July: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP and Charles Hendry held a small suppliers summit to discuss barriers to new competition in the market

• 29 June: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP wrote an open letter to energy suppliers calling for improved billing to help households move to the best tariffs available

• 22 June: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP backed Ofgem’s proposals to overhaul the retail gas and electricity markets

• 7 June: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP highlighted the energy savings still available for homes that are not properly insulated

• 13 June: Charles Hendry announced that red tape will be slashed for small suppliers to help them compete with established energy companies

• 2 June: Greg Barker set out consumer protection measures as part of Green Deal legislation

• 10 May: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP announced minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector as part of Green Deal legislation
  
• 14 April: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP announced the reopening of the Warm Front scheme, to help 90,000 more low income householders including pensioners cut their energy bills
• 21 September 2010: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP warns energy companies not to block changes to give energy consumers 30 days advance notice of bills

Visit DECC’s page on frequently asked questions about energy prices

Published 15 September 2011