Ed Davey, the energy secretary, has urged the energy regulators Ofgem to investigate the main six energy companies, regarding high profit margins.

Mr Davey has asked Ofgem to look into whether the high profit margins posted by the six main UK energy providers should be subject to a market investigation.

Mr Davey made comments indicating that energy companies should be broken up, if they had abused their market position, during the BBC’s Today programme: "There could be a number of remedies, including the breakup of some of these companies if they have abused their market power."

Labour spokesman on energy and climate change, Jonathan Reynold, said: "If the government wants to be taken seriously on energy bills, nothing less than a price freeze and action to stop these firms from overcharging in the future, as Labour has proposed, will do."