[jtwn]

If the government actually cared, it could set up its own operation that sells energy at a price where it only makes a marginal profit on the market price it buys at.

But it wouldn't do it because that falls under the guise of being 'uncompetitive' and public industries are 'inefficient'. Obviously it is a bit too 'red' as well and we could never go against the wheel that thatcher started turning.