I think that homes in on my point - consumers who have ever increasing charges do not have clear information about the aggregate divisible (as opposed to retained) profits, ie what percentgage of what consumers pay is for the actual cost of energy generating and energy retailing. Also if all the energy retailers do is purchase energy and do nothing else but sell it on, then it appears that deregulation is of no benefit to the consumer as all the retailers do is add their profit onto what is already available.

What occurs to me is that the more people along the supply chain want their dividend, the more people will be in fuel poverty, particularly those who have to make decisions through being on benefits or minimum wage have to make choices about whther to heat or eat. And those who can't afford to run their freezer pay more for food, etc etc etc