In Germany, France and even the US, most energy is supplied by the state, and such challenges are more easily faced
Government ministers say they will not bail out badly run energy supply companies with a poor business model. Bankruptcy is a natural part of business, and companies must be allowed to fail.
But the energy we need for our lives is not an ordinary consumer product; it’s a basic necessity. As a result, even though the sector is in the hands of private companies, we expect our government and local authorities to deal with the problem, because they have an unavoidable responsibility to ensure a reliable supply.