With his eye as ever on the timing of an event, David Cameron held a summit of energy customers and consumer groups today in order to work at bringing down energy prices. Along with Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, he invited the six biggest power firms in order to discuss making a “trusted, simple and transparent” market. It is unlikely that the government has not noticed the fact the timing of the summit coincides with nights drawing in, thermometers dropping and central heating being turned on for the first time this winter.

Two providers, namely British Gas and NPower, have pledged to not raise energy prices again this year, while SSE’s prices will not rise until August next year at the earliest.

While the government has admitted it cannot control the rising price of gas on the international market, Cameron has said that the government needs to work “harder and faster” to mitigate the cost for the consumer.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change called the meeting in order to encourage customers to take action to save money, while consumer groups such as Which? are calling for a revision of the deep-seated issues in the market.