Downing Street said today that ministers had not ruled out imposing a windfall tax on power companies to fund energy-saving measures for poorer customers.

The prime minister’s spokesman said that talks with the energy companies were ongoing and that all options – including a windfall tax – remained on the table.

The comments came after Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, accused energy companies of “blackmailing” the government because they are apparently reluctant to fund the energy-saving measures that the government is proposing.

Without help, this winter could turn out to be a “disastrous” one for customers unable to pay their bills, Clegg told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme this morning.

… continued at The Guardian