Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, commenting on Ofgem’s decision to refer the energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority for a market investigation, said: 

“Rising energy bills are causing a cost-of-living crisis. That’s why Labour will break up the big energy companies, put an end to their secret deals, make tariffs simpler and fairer – and freeze energy bills until 2017. 

“The launch of a full market investigation is a clear admission that Britain’s energy market is broken and that radical action is needed. However, it shouldn’t paralyse politicians from taking action now, so while this investigation is happening, consumers should be protected from any more unfair price rises by freezing energy bills until 2017.”