The European Parliament has voted for a plan that could see European energy companies forced to sell off their electricity distribution networks in a move designed to boost competition and cut prices across the continent.

Despite a compromise at the Council of Ministers this month that would allow companies to retain ownership of distribution networks, but under separate ownership, MEPs supported the original "full unbundling" plan. That could see the likes of France's EDF and its German counterpart RWE being broken up. In the UK, the National Grid is already separate from electricity suppliers. ... Read full article