UK: IM Sounding Board - Gas competion benefits in full flow.

Deregulation of the gas industry in Britain, one of the most fundamental restructurings of a key industry in years, has not been spared teething problems - but already 3.2 million of the UK's 20 million domestic consumers have switched to their choice of gas supplier.

At the rate consumers have been switching since national roll-out was completed in May, the number could rise to four million by early next year.

Deregulation is important because it is introducing an element of competition that is advantageous to consumers. Britain is the only country in the world with a fully competitive gas market where 20 million customers can choose which company they want to supply their gas.