On 21 January, people dressed as energy company representatives stopped shoppers at the Victoria Centre clock tower entrance to thank them for paying generously through their gas and electric bills to help the companies achieve record profits. A closer look at the company logos showed they said 'EDF-off', 'E not on', and 'Brutish Gas'.

It was part of Friends of the Earth’s Final Demand campaign to highlight the cost of Britain’s big energy stitch-up.

FOE’s Dirty Half Dozen report shows that the main reason for increases in bills over the last ten years has been the continual increases in fossil fuel prices. There have also been high profits made by the Big Six energy companies.

If the Big Six continue to invest in new fossil fuel power plants instead of renewable energy these increases will continue – perhaps an extra £300 per year on the average bill by 2020. That is because the price of fossil fuels will continue to go up. But the cost of renewable energy will come down as investment increases.

Friends of the Earth wants a public inquiry into the Big Six – see petition at www.foe.co.uk/finaldemand.

See also a brief Youtube video of a similar stunt.