Who would have imagined such fraud would be taking place in the highly lucrative energy market? Blow me down with a fucking feather.
FSA examines whistleblower's claims of 'Libor-like' manipulation in gas prices
Whistleblower claims £300bn wholesale gas market has been manipulated by big power companies
The City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, is investigating claims by a whistleblower that Britain's £300bn wholesale gas market has been "regularly" manipulated by some of the big power companies, exploiting weaknesses that echo the recent Libor scandal.
Separately, the energy regulator Ofgem has been warned by a company responsible for setting so-called benchmark prices, ICIS Heren, that it had seen evidence of suspect trading on 28 September, a key date as it marks the end of the gas financial year and can have an important influence on future prices.
The whistleblower, who worked for ICIS Heren, raised the alarm after identifying what he believed to be attempts to distort the prices reported by the company. These benchmark prices are critically important because many wholesale gas contracts are based on them and small changes in the price can cost or save companies millions.
The revelations come at a highly charged time for Britain's energy sector, with many of the big six suppliers under public fire for alleged profiteering on household energy bills and mis-selling on the doorstep.
The energy secretary, Ed Davey, said : "I am extremely concerned about these allegations and will be keeping in close touch with the regulators while they get to the bottom of this."
In a statement, the FSA said: "We can confirm that we have received information in relation to the physical gas market. We take market misconduct seriously and will be analysing the material."
Ofgem said it had been given material "relating to trading in the gas market and is looking into the issue". The energy regulator said it had limited powers in this area but would "consider carefully any evidence of market abuse brought to our attention as well as scope for action under all our other powers".
The City and energy regulators are keenly aware of the growing political concern that high energy prices, which are linked to wholesale values, can increase fuel poverty and undermine economic growth. , he Green MP Caroline Lucas said: "If these revelations stand up to analysis by the FSA and Ofgem, then this is corruption on a massive scale and a shameful case of corporates coming together to exploit a public utility."
The market abuse concerns were initially raised by Seth Freedman, a former City trader who worked as a price reporter at ICIS Heren for nine months. He told the Guardian he believed problems he spotted in a frenzied half-hour of trading on 28 September were more widespread.
"Traders have made clear to me that manipulation of gas prices is taking place on a regular basis.
"They name big companies among those they accuse of trying to rig prices and reap profits. Market participants claim the fixing of prices is an open secret," he said.
He also claimed that:
• The big six companies are among those whose names are quoted by traders as being involved in attempts to raise or depress wholesale gas prices.
• The key benchmark indices produced by at least one price reporting agency (PRA) and used increasingly in massive UK supply contracts are unreliable, and undermined by poorly-trained staff and over-cosy relationships between traders and price reporters.
• Traders regularly put price reporters under pressure to change prices they disagree with.
• Price reporters struggle to set accurate benchmarks because they lack detailed information about trading in the opaque so-called "over-the-counter" market and are dependent on what traders tell them about market activity.
Full story is here:
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/12/...pulation-gas-markets
If you click on the link there are some videos of interviews with the whistleblower.
), you just pour it straight in. 
I can't put a finger on why exactly, but I can feel the urge to bitch slap someone coming on in increments. 
Your plan doesn't require bottle now does it, just a good helping of self delusion. 
