Well if you call a £40million loss (commerical and consumer) relatively fixed then i'd agree but that's an awful lot of money that could have gone to good use....

I've no doubt the link between gas and oil is artificial or at least unfavourable, but while it is linked in such a way there is a huge cost to the supplier. Energywatch and Ofgem have been examining the link between gas and oil, and the increases to consumer prices. While they all agree the gas/oil indexing seems artificial and should be re-examined - they've begrudingly agreed that while it is in place he increases while steep, and down right scary have some justification.

Personally, I think if the gas oil index were to be broken we'd see a plummet in the amounts supplers can and would be charged for wholesale energy and then the prices they pass on to consumers. If this takes government intervention i'm all for it. Vertical Integration isn't really that much of a problem with the way each "side" of a company has to operate. If the meter operator or distributior is for example scottish power - they have to treat and charge scottish power the supplier excactly the same as they would any other supplier in the market. That includes the infomation that is passed from one supplier to another, the charges the apply and support they provide.

So I wouldn't say i've "fallen for the propaganda" just accepting the satus of the market as it is presently and how it affects everyone involved.