As several power companies in Great Britian raised their prices for residential consumers by 3.5 percent, analysts suggested climate change policies were part of the reason.

 An electricity analyst at consultants Wood Mackenzie told Reuters (Aug. 19) that, Industrial and commercial customers have seen rises between 20 and 30 percent in quotes for their power contracts for next year, mainly due to higher oil prices and a European Union carbon emissions trading scheme starting in January.  The report went on, The emissions trading scheme is likely to curb output at coal-fired power stations, the most polluting generators.