CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT FROM EU ACTION ON ENERGY MATTERS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 5th Apr 2006

"The failure of the Government to tackle the opening up of EU energy markets has cost consumers heavily and has plunged 1.5 million UK households into fuel poverty since 2003 alone.

"Under New Labour price increases have become all too commonplace with an average increase since 2003 of £335 on gas and electricity bills. If the Government had got to work on this issue sooner, people might have been spared these rises."