Northern Ireland electricity regulator, Mr Douglas McIldoon, has put increased pressure on the electricity industry to co operate with his plans for increased competition or face a referral to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Mr McIldoon has stated that electricity prices could be reduced by 10 per cent with the cooperation of the industry.

Speaking in Belfast yesterday, Mr McIldoon warned that in the absence of that co-operation the choice is between accepting a "manifestly unsatisfactory" situation or asking the Commission to examine the industry.