The power industry has always prided itself on producing big solutions for big problems. In the Uk demand reaches 360TWh a year and this demand is supplied by less the 45 power stations. Admittedly there are some small generators but they supply a fraction of the demand. This is growing but long term growth will not be stopped by an army of micro generators. Perhaps more interestingly of the all the supply in the country most are dominated by the big six, RWE E.On, Centrica, EDF, Scottish and Southern Scottish Power. (On a solely supply side one would not want to dismiss International Power, Drax and British Energy) but these big six (vertically hedged) players have begun to attract attention for making abnormal profits.

In Germany there are currently investigation associated with tax kickbacks from a nuclear allowance and the federal cartel office is investigating profits off the back of emissions allowances. Connoco Phillips has just realeased a 51% increase ion profits and if Exxon records something similar the Chancellors windfall tax on oil and gas producers will be larger than anyone predicted. So if you are that big you tend to attract a certain amount of attention as your success is seen as a result of bully boy tactics to the competition. Who knows whether it is really fair, what we do know is that the bigger one gets the more difficult it is to hide ones bulk.