U.K. Energy Secretary’s Call to Move Levies Played Down

Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s call to move two of the levies on gas and electricity bills into general taxation was played down by a person familiar with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s budget plans, who indicated the matter has yet to be decided.

Liberal Democrat Davey in an interview in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday suggested the taxpayer could foot the bill for two of the so-called green levies funded by energy bills. The newspaper said if the largest levy, the Energy Companies’ Obligation, is removed after talks between senior Conservatives and energy companies, prices might immediately fall by 7 percent.