Online price comparison company uSwitch has lambasted the lack of true competition on the Continent and urged British energy consumers to take advantage of the UK's fully liberalized market by shopping around for their supplier.
<p>In a statement, uSwitch said that it welcomed the noises coming from Brussels following the 18-month European Commission energy inquiry, suggesting that the EU's planned tougher stance was needed as too many European markets were not offering proper market competition.<br /><br />Brussels has criticized those who have not done enough to ensure open market forces prevail in their jurisdictions, including France and Germany, and has proposed fresh reforms to combat the unwanted trends of under-investment, lack of access to infrastructure, inadequate unbundling of networks and lack of market integration. <br /><br />Meanwhile, uSwitch has urged UK energy customers to take advantage of the freedoms that many of their continental neighbors do not have by shopping around for their supplier. It said that, while British energy users are benefiting from a liberalized market, over 50% have still not taken advantage of the benefits it offers.</p>