Energy bills are set to rise because Britain will become more reliant on energy imports to fill a shortfall in domestic production, the industry watchdog has warned. Ofgem said supplies are on a "rollercoaster" and heading "downhill fast".
The Government said it was acting to prevent any possible "looming energy gap" following the Ofgem boss' warning.
A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said:
Our increasing reliance on gas leaves the UK more reliant on an energy supply from a very dangerous part of the world.
So what is behind the new urgency in the warnings about keeping the lights on?
The boss of energy regulator Ofgem has warned that the looming shutdown of several coal power plants will raise energy bills further.