Miliband says “nothing less” than energy price freeze will do

Labour’s Ed Miliband today declared “nothing less” than an energy price freeze will do, hammering home the message he hopes will win his party the election in 2015. Mr Miliband […]

Labour’s Ed Miliband today declared “nothing less” than an energy price freeze will do, hammering home the message he hopes will win his party the election in 2015.

Mr Miliband poured scorn on the Government’s proposals for a tax rebate announced today which is meant to limit the amount energy bills rise next year.

His comments come after the Labour party released an ‘Energy Green Paper’ on Friday laying out steps it would take if it wins the next election to make sure energy is “affordable and available for the long term”. Central to this plan is a price freeze.

The Labour leader wrote on Twitter: “Only one question you need to ask today: are energy bills still rising? Nothing less than a price freeze & energy market reset will do.”

In a later tweet, he wrote: “David Cameron’s energy announcement today: Your bills are still going up, energy companies are still being protected by his government.”

Labour’s Green Paper included ten points including improving competition and transparency in the wholesale and retail markets, ditching Ofgem for a new regulator with “real teeth” to prevent suppliers overcharging on bills, as well as the establishment of a new Energy Security Board to plan and deliver the capacity Britain needs.

Announcing the plans on Friday, Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint said: “With Labour’s strong and comprehensive energy plan, we will put an end to people being overcharged and power Britain into the next century together.”

Other points in Labour’s plan were: ring-fencing supply and generation businesses within suppliers; bringing forward the start date of the Contracts for Difference system which pays for low carbon energy; and setting a 2030 target for decarbonising the power sector.

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