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CAMPAIGNERS have demanded the renationalisation of the energy sector to end the “scandal of profiteering” as they targeted a summit of gas and electricity bosses in London today.
Activists from the Unite union and charity Debt Justice gathered outside the “future of utilities” meeting in Islington holding a banner with “cost of greed” emblazoned across it.
The summit — attended by representatives from British Gas, Scottish Power, Shell, the National Grid and others — came after Unite research revealed energy companies pocketed a whopping £45 billion last year as bills soared to record highs.
Profiteering has led to households building up a £2.3bn debt mountain, £1.1bn of which is held by those with pre-payment meters who tend to be the lowest earners, Debt Justice added.
Unite head Sharon Graham said: “There is growing anger about profiteering. Britain’s energy network is not fit for purpose.
“Taking energy into public ownership would end the scandal of energy company profiteering and burgeoning household debt.”
Debt Justice boss Heidi Chow slammed privatisation as a “spectacular failure” and called for a pause to energy debt enforcement while inflation remains at a four-decade high.
