1.   The Office of Electricity Regulation should investigate the preferential contracts between the regional electricity boards and the gas-fired power stations.

2.   It operates via the regional electricity companies, which must pay a premium price for renewable energy.

3.   He has also highlighted plans to set up an independent Energy Savings Trust, funded with some of the profits made by British Gas and the regional electricity companies.

4.   Among the companies sold at the end of last year were six regional electricity distribution companies.

5.   Analysts thought that the Brazilian government would let regional electricity companies compete to sell energy over a nationwide grid that would remain under state control, Binder said.

6.   Both National Power and PowerGen have excess cash after the U.K. government blocked their bids for regional electricity distribution companies earlier this month.

7.   All the cash-rich regional electricity companies face new restrictions on their revenue when the industry regulator reveals new price controls next month.

8.   All the cash-rich regional electricity companies face new restrictions on their revenue when Littlechild introduces new price controls next month.

9.   All regional electricity distributors buy power from the generating companies through a special pool that serves as a market or wholesaler.