It is not a good time to be a power generator in the UK. Electricity prices have slumped since the March 2001 introduction of the new electricity trading arrangements (Neta), and the UK’s largest electricity generator has suffered. British Energy (BE) – based in East Kilbride in Scotland – is the UK’s main base-load supplier, with 9.6 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity and 2GW of fossil-fired plant. However, it is in the prompt market that power generators are likely to make their profits