An "energy price freeze" does not control prices and what happens to workers wages?

Ed Miliband’s energy policy needs  to be understood – he proposes to govern by issuing edicts to companies, telling energy firms what they should charge their customers and threatening similar orders to those he regards as ‘predators’. He has a very advanced and detailed business strategy — but seems to lack the support of a single prominent business leader. More importantly his strategy would raise prices not lower them. And who will do the investing in new energy infrastructure?  

I asked this question of the shadow Energy secretary Caroline Flint, in the House of Commons, last week:

Guy Opperman (Hexham, Conservative)

"Does the right hon. Lady accept that an externally imposed price freeze does not control overseas supply or energy prices?"

Answer came there none.

I set out below the full debate: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-04-02b.892.1&s=speaker%3A24962#g893.2

Later another colleague asked her:

"What discussions has she had with trade unions and the energy industry about the possibility, should there be a price freeze, of a demand for a wages and salary freeze in the energy industry?"

I cannot overstate the problems that would occur if government fixes prices - investment will be stymied, wages will reduce and all of us, the customer, will suffer in the long term.

My Fuel Poverty Video: with Turn To Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvPpd1PoXiE

The Weekend Read: Iran is the good news story of 2014

Iran as a working friend, and not as an active enemy, is the key to Middle Eastern Peace.
Last week, the very fact that the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was in Davos, at the world economic forum, and saying Iran was open for business, was the most important world story for a very long time. It's the first time in ten years that an Iranian president has attended the World Economic Forum and he came with a message: Iran is ready to engage with the rest of the world, and he wants his country to become one of the ten global economies. It is also very good news for greater peace and a resolution of conflict in the Middle East.

Mr Rouhani said he intended to remove “all political and economic impediments to growth” in Iran and that one of his priorities was “constructive engagement” with the world, including through the use of its oil and gas reserves. “Only through co-operation and engagement can we provide a better life for our people and make peace sustainable,” he said.

For its part, Iran intends to “reopen trade, industrial and economic relations with all of our neighbours”, he said, identifying Turkey, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the states of the Gulf and Central Asia.

Clearly the presence of Iran back in to the fold of oil producing countries that we can do business with would have a seriously good positive impact on the price of oil - and more importantly the cost of energy and petrol - that we in Northumberland, and the wider west, consume.
It is clear that business leaders from all over the world are beginning to go to Tehran in the coming months. Again this is a potential new market for British Exporters who are keen to sell their wares.
This potential for new business for Irtan is linked to its decision to back off its possible nuclear programme, and its decision to engage with the west and not seek out confrontation. It is the most important sea change in world affairs for a very long time, and very good news. It is also clear that Rouhani will have a huge impact on the Syrian conflict, as his more recent pronouncements have shown.
For a fuller report on his speech and approach at Davos, the Guardian have the following view:  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/23/davos-iran-ready-engage-world-rouhani

Ed Miliband switched his energy supplier - after criticising the policy

Bizarre day at PMQs today when it was revealed that Miliband was taking the advice he derided so strongly only last week: this from todays debate

David Cameron:
"What we need in the energy market is more competition and lower levies and charges to drive profits and prices down, but what we have learnt in the last week is this: competition should include switching. At the Dispatch Box, Ed Miliband, said:

“I will tell the Prime Minister what is a con: telling people…that the answer was to switch suppliers”.—[Official Report, 23 October 2013; Vol. 569, c. 295.]

However, what have we found out over the last few days? The right hon. Gentleman switched his supplier. Yes—he went for one of these insurgent companies to cut his bills. Is it not typical? The right hon. Gentleman comes here every week and attacks Tory policy; then he goes home and adopts Tory policy to help his own family."
Even from Ed this was a special U turn