Dive Brief:

• Utilities in the United Kingdom are blaming the increase in consumer electricity bills on government energy policies.
• CEOs of SSE Pic and RWE Npower, two of the country's largest generators, say the government's drive to install wind and solar power along with the goal of installing smart meters in every home is irresponsible.
• The average household bill is up 68% since 2008. 

Dive Insight: 

The UK is in the midst of a political debate over whether to cap the price of electricity, as has been proposed by the leader of the opposition Labor Party. Generators fear such a move would kill plans to build new power plants.

“If the Labour Party can commit to reducing policy costs on household energy bills, stopping the smart meter roll-out, preventing commodity cost increases and accept that there won’t be any investment in new power stations and infrastructure, then we could freeze our prices,” Paul Massara, CEO of RWE Npower, said.