LIB DEM Energy Secretary Ed Davey has dodged the government’s own green tax by switching to an utilities company that is exempt from paying it.

The news came as it emerged that over two million Britons have switched from the rip-off big six energy giants, choosing cheaper options.

Cabinet minister Mr Davey recently changed from Sainsbury’s Energy to Green Star Energy which, despite its name, is not an eco-certified company.

But because it has fewer than 250,000 customers, it is exempt from the £112-a-year “green duty” that most customers are charged.

The relief for smaller firms was introduced by Tory ministers running scared of Ed Miliband’s plan to freeze bills for 20 months if Labour wins next year’s election.

A survey published today found that about two-thirds of householders say rising energy prices are their biggest worry.

This compares to only 23 per cent keeping up with the mortgage or rent, the 2014 Kingfisher European Home Report found.

And while only four per cent of households wanted to improve their home’s energy efficiency in 2012, this has now shot up to 31 per cent.

Kingfisher group chief executive Sir Ian Cheshire said: “Rising energy prices are a very real fear right across Europe, a bigger concern even than worries about paying the rent or mortgage, or rising crime.

“There is a staggering increase in the number of people who intend to prioritise energy efficiency and it is soaring bills that are driving this agenda.”