Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has said he is determined to "get tough" with the six biggest energy companies, in his speech to the Lib Dem conference. He said he wanted to help people save money by making it easier to spot cheaper deals and switch providers. And he denied telling a newspaper that consumers were too lazy to shop around for lower prices.

Labour accused Mr Huhne of "standing idly by while energy companies raise their prices way above inflation". The energy secretary said the government wanted to see "simpler tariffs" and a system in which firms were required "to tell you whether you could buy more cheaply on another tariff". He did not give details of exactly how firms would be forced to change their practices, but did discuss beefing up Ofgem's regulatory powers.

'Consumer charities'

Mr Huhne has faced criticism after he was quoted by the Times newspaper as saying consumers "do not bother" to hunt for better deals on electricity and gas, and spent more time shopping fo....Read more on todays story----> BBC News - Chris Huhne pledges to over energy prices