Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, will today launch Labour’s consultation process on the party’s plans for the biggest reform of Britain’s electricity and gas market since the privatisation of the 1980s.

The Energy Green Paper, published by Ed Miliband and Caroline Flint on Friday in Manchester, set out the steps a One Nation Labour government will take to reset the energy 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
* Replacing Ofgem with a new regulator with real teeth to prevent overcharging
* Establishing a new Energy Security Board to plan and deliver the capacity Britain needs
* Setting a decarbonisation target for 2030 and giving the Green Investment Bank new powers to encourage investment in clean energy

Speaking at the IPPR thinktank today, Caroline Flint is expected to say:

“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. Over the last two months our plans to freeze energy bills for 20 months have shone a light on an energy market that no-longer works for Britain. But this is only one part of our plan. Our reforms during the 20 month price freeze will reset the market with real competition and proper regulation so that prices are affordable for the long-term.”

On David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s announcement on green levies, she is expected to say:

“If David Cameron and Nick Clegg think just doing what the energy companies ask of them is the answer to bills being too high they are wrong. Energy bills have gone up by £120 this winter alone, so even with a £50 cut in levies, people’s bills will still be higher this winter than last year. The real reason bills are rising year on year without justification is because the energy market is broken. Instead of bailing out the energy companies, David Cameron should stand up to them and stop them overcharging people.”