This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24232292

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Energy chiefs reject Labour plan to freeze prices Energy chiefs reject Labour plan to freeze prices
(34 minutes later)
Britain's biggest energy firms have rejected Labour's plan to freeze energy prices, saying it will jeopardise much-needed investment.Britain's biggest energy firms have rejected Labour's plan to freeze energy prices, saying it will jeopardise much-needed investment.
Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged to freeze gas and electricity bills for every home and business in the UK for 20 months if it wins the 2015 election.Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged to freeze gas and electricity bills for every home and business in the UK for 20 months if it wins the 2015 election.
In response, one chief executive said that it was "very easy" for politicians to come up with "simple" solutions.In response, one chief executive said that it was "very easy" for politicians to come up with "simple" solutions.
He said that rising energy prices were needed to pay for investment.He said that rising energy prices were needed to pay for investment.
Paul Massara, chief executive of RWE npower said: "If the Labour Party can commit to reducing policy costs on household energy bills, stopping the smart meter roll-out, preventing commodity cost increases and accept that there won't be any investment in new power stations and infrastructure, then we could freeze our prices. But will this make things better for Britain?" "It's very easy for politicians to come up with simple-sounding solutions to difficult problems," said Paul Massara, chief executive of RWE npower.
"But in reality, there are three main factors that influence prices: fixing inefficient housing stock, the investment required to replace the UK's energy infrastructure and the cost of the buying energy on the global market."
SuperficialSuperficial
Energy UK, which represents the power industry, said the policy would threaten the entire UK economy.Energy UK, which represents the power industry, said the policy would threaten the entire UK economy.
Angela Knight, chief executive of Energy UK, said: "Freezing the bill may be superficially attractive, but it will also freeze the money to build and renew power stations, freeze the jobs and livelihoods of the 600,000-plus people dependent on the energy industry and make the prospect of energy shortages a reality, pushing up the prices for everyone. "Freezing the bill may be superficially attractive," said Angela Knight, chief executive of Energy UK.
"But it will also freeze the money to build and renew power stations, freeze the jobs and livelihoods of the 600,000-plus people dependent on the energy industry and make the prospect of energy shortages a reality, pushing up the prices for everyone.
"We need to invest £110bn over the next 10 years to build and renew the power stations, the wires and the pipes everyone in the country needs to keep the lights on, our homes warm and to supply the power for British business to compete, to recover and to grow," she said."We need to invest £110bn over the next 10 years to build and renew the power stations, the wires and the pipes everyone in the country needs to keep the lights on, our homes warm and to supply the power for British business to compete, to recover and to grow," she said.
Business lobby group the CBI said that there now appeared to be a contradiction in Labour's energy policy. Energy firms are accused of quickly raising prices when wholesale energy prices rise and being slow to lower prices when wholesale prices fall.
"Rising energy bills are tough on families and businesses. But the proposed energy price freeze will deter much-needed investment and is at odds with Labour's pledge to decarbonise the economy and create a million green jobs," said John Cridland, CBI director-general. Gillian Guy, chief executive of national charity Citizens Advice, said: "Energy firms must keep price rises to a minimum and make sure that any drops in wholesale costs are passed on to customers.
Energy firms say that government policy is partly to blame for rising fuel bills. "A fresh round of energy price rises could be the nail in the coffin for people's household budgets - many are already being pushed to breaking point by a perfect storm of price rises, wage freezes and benefit curbs."
Good intentions
Energy firms argue that they work hard to keep costs down, but are hampered by government policy.
SSE said in a statement: "We need to do all we can to keep energy prices affordable. At the moment, the actual energy consumers use makes up just half of a dual-fuel energy bill.SSE said in a statement: "We need to do all we can to keep energy prices affordable. At the moment, the actual energy consumers use makes up just half of a dual-fuel energy bill.
"Well-intentioned government policies to promote household energy-efficiency and renewable energy, supported by all parties, have been placed on energy bills and are rising significantly in cost.""Well-intentioned government policies to promote household energy-efficiency and renewable energy, supported by all parties, have been placed on energy bills and are rising significantly in cost."
Business lobby group the CBI said that there now appeared to be a contradiction in Labour's energy policy.
"Rising energy bills are tough on families and businesses. But the proposed energy price freeze will deter much-needed investment and is at odds with Labour's pledge to decarbonise the economy and create a million green jobs," said John Cridland, CBI director-general.