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LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Britain's Energy Secretary EdDavey said on Monday he wants the market share of independentenergy providers to treble by the end of the decade, as thecompetition watchdog looks into the competitive behaviour ofmajor utilities.
Independent energy suppliers' market share has doubled thisyear to nearly 10 percent as energy users move away from theincumbent 'Big Six' providers in protest against poor customerservice and high bills.
"I want to go further and see them have a 30 percent marketshare by the end of the decade," Davey said in a statement. Hedid not say how this target would be achieved, and the energyministry press office said the statement reflected theminister's personal view.
The government does not have an official target to increasethe market share of independent energy suppliers. But thecompetition watchdog is currently carrying out an in-depthinvestigation into whether the Big Six have displayed anyanti-competitive behaviour, a probe that could lead to the breakup of some companies.
The Big Six are SSE, Centrica's British Gas,Scottish Power, E.ON, RWE npower and EDF Energy.
The affordability of energy bills rose to the top of thepolitical agenda a year ago when the opposition Labour partypromised to freeze energy prices if it wins power in next May'selection.
Market share data compiled by consultancy Cornwall Energyshowed on Monday that small suppliers now hold 8.7 percent ofdomestic energy accounts or 10.4 percent when comparing theshare of dual-fuel accounts.
"Smaller suppliers are now a significant threat and crediblealternative to the major suppliers," said Nigel Cornwall,managing director of Cornwall Energy.
First Utility is the largest of Britain's independentsuppliers, holding 3.1 percent of the dual-fuel market, whileothers including Ovo Energy and Utility Warehouse, owned byTelecom Plus, make up the rest. (Reporting by Karolin Schaps; Editing by Michael Urquhart)
