Energy secretary, Chris Huhne, will hold talks today (July 7) to find out why 99% get their energy from one of six companies.

Mr Huhne will meet with the bosses of firms renewable and smaller energy firms including Ecotricity, Co-op Energy, First Utility, Good Energy and Ovo Energy in Whitehall.

The ‘Big Six’ are Scottish Power, nPower, EDF, Scottish and Southern, E.ON and British Gas (Centrica).

Ahead of the meeting Mr Huhne said: “Our energy market has been too cosy for too long.

“I’m calling a summit of independent energy suppliers so the small guys have an equal chance to bid for people’s business.”

Mr Huhne went on to say over the next ten years the UK would need to double its normal energy investment to replace old power stations and ‘keep the lights on’.

He added: “The current market simply can’t deliver, so we need more companies and more competition to keep price rises as low as possible.

“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.”

The meeting comes just days before the Government is due to publish its White Paper on electricity market reform.

Luke Walsh

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