It has made clear it wants to speed up moves towards a federal Europe, with more of the features of a continental super-state.

BBC: Belgium's EU agenda

In Connecticut, power prices have soared over the past decade and are currently the highest for any state in the continental United States.

FORBES: Clean Energy Tops Agenda in Connecticut

Whereas most continental power providers, often state-backed, tied in supplies through long-term contracts (notably with Russia), British firms happily tapped the North Sea and planned to top up as necessary on the open market.

ECONOMIST: Britain's energy crisis