No bold steps in latest bid to control energy's Big Six
After two years of investigation and 200 submissions competition officials today came out with a conclusion most households could have given in an instant - big energy firms are taking most customers for granted.
A bold and innovative analysis was promised but the biggest possible interventions have been ruled out.
A break up of the "Big Six" and price controls over standard tariffs are not being called for.
One of the biggest new ideas is a database of people who have been on old standard tariffs for three years or more.
This would allow customers to be targeted for better deals by rival firms.
Many customers will fear a bombardment of confusing junk mail and marketing phone calls.
It remains unclear what safeguards there will be to prevent this, other than an option for households to opt-out.
The most significant conclusion is the introduction of price controls - but they are only temporary and only for those on prepayment meters.
Given the clear evidence that the energy market is letting customers down, many will have wanted mainstream prices to also be subjected to controls.