The Guardian has published an exclusive report today on claims by a whistleblower that the big energy companies are involved in manipulating prices in the wholesale gas market.

Responding to the claims, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said:

“These shocking claims from an energy industry insider would seem to confirm what many have always suspected – that energy companies are manipulating prices to boost their own profits, while millions of British people struggle to cope with huge and ever increasing energy bills.

“If these revelations stand up to analysis by the FSA and Ofgem, then this is corruption on a massive scale and a shameful case of corporates coming together to exploit a public utility.

"It’s about time we had full transparency and accountability in the energy market – for far too long, the big energy companies have called the shots on government policy.

“With the future of the UK’s power sector hanging in the balance ahead of the publication of the Energy Bill, ministers should now agree to publish all details of meetings between officials and the energy companies involved in negotiations to deliver our energy in the years ahead – regardless of the outcome of this investigation.”

She continued:

“The possibility of illegal gas price manipulation also raises further questions about the obsessive determination of some in this government, like Chancellor George Osborne, to usher in a new dash-for-gas – and the undue influence of pro-gas lobbyists in the corridors of power.

“On the day that the IEA has warned that two thirds of fossil fuels must stay in the ground if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change, the UK government should think about ditching its expensive plans for ever more gas, and instead get fully behind renewables, energy efficiency measures and the community energy schemes which can help give more power to the smaller energy generators and communities across the UK.”

ENDS