Research for the Utility Regulator showed the price was double that paid in countries such as France and Sweden.

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The Utility Regulator said it had acted quickly to make sure recent falls in wholesale gas prices were passed on.

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"However, I am confident that the Utility Regulator will act in the best interest of consumers and pass on any electricity price reductions as quickly as possible, " she said.

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The utility and its regulator are staffed with professionals trained to make that kind of assessment.

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Two others, Martin Wolf, the Financial Times' chief economics rottweiler, and Clare Spottiswoode, a former utility regulator, are said to be more provocative but not yet obviously wedded to any position.

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