WE have become so used to power. Light and heat come at the flick of a switch. The meters that glow in so many of our homes seem far removed from considerations of global markets and supply chains, giant transcontinental pipelines and the sailing of super-chilled tankers from the Gulf states.

Yet, the collapse of five small energy companies since August — with up to 30 more reportedly in danger of going to the wall by the winter — and price spikes across the industry underscoring Britain’s unenviable position as providing the highest domestic electricity prices in Europe raise the twin spectres of gas shortages and increasing energy poverty.

Some three million of our citizens already live in fuel poverty, a figure which looks like rising by another half a million as the result of the reduction of universal credit and the increase in the energy price cap.