Ed Miliband and Caroline Flint will today launch Labour’s plan for the biggest reform of Britain’s electricity and gas market since the privatisation of the 1980s.

The Energy Green Paper sets out the steps a One Nation Labour government will take while we reset the market during the 20 month price freeze to ensure energy is affordable and available for the long term by:

•Improving competition and transparency in both the wholesale and retail market
•Establishing a new Energy Security Board to plan and deliver the capacity Britain needs
•Replacing Ofgem with a new regulator with real teeth to prevent overcharging
Speaking at Manchester Town Hall today (Friday), Mr Miliband is expected to say:

“Over the past two months we have been talking about how we would take on the Big Six energy companies and begin tackling the cost of living crisis by freezing energy bills for millions of businesses and customers.

"But today I want to focus on the long term change we would bring about while we reset the market during the 20 months of Labour’s energy price freeze.

"Change that will make sure electricity and gas is affordable and available for the long term.

"When Britain’s gas and electricity was privatised 25 years ago, the government of the time embarked upon a huge advertising campaign boasting about how brilliant privatisation would be - and not just the people to whom they were selling cut price shares.

"You may remember it.

”“Tell Sid,” they said.

“In the past three years it has become clear to e veryone but this government that the energy market is broken. Prices are rising year on year without justification. And Britain is not getting the investment in energy we need to secure supplies for the future.

"Today, a quarter of a century on I have a new message for Sid:

"Labour is setting out our plan to make sure gas and electricity is affordable and available for this generation and generations to come.

"This Green Paper on Energy is a clear and workable plan for the biggest reform of Britain’s energy market since the privatisation of the 1980s.

"We have a new message for Sid:

"We will freeze your bills for 20 months.

"We will reset the market with real competition and proper regulation so that prices are affordable.

"We will secure the investment we need.

"Today’s Green Paper on Energy sets out how the energy market is failing consumers and failing Britain. And it explains how a One Nation Labour Government will secure energy which is affordable and available.

"We will stop you being ripped off and, together, we will power Britain into the next century.”