Britain's energy consumers are prepared to meet some of the costs of curbing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, but are worried they may be forced to assume too large a burden.

Britain's energy consumers are prepared to meet some of the costs of curbing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, but are worried they may be forced to assume too large a burden.

Research for the industry regulator, Ofgem, shows that consumers believe the industry and government should pay their fair share to fund energy efficiency measures.

The research has a worrying message for the government, which will publish its energy white paper later this month, paving the way for a new generation of nuclear power plants.

"Most participants did not even want to discuss the subject of nuclear," according to the report. "They had such strong feelings about the destructive potential of nuclear and nuclear waste that they preferred to ignore it as an option."

Ofgem's chief executive, Alistair Buchanan, said the regulator had commissioned the research to ensure that when it advised the government on important issues it would have a sense of consumers' views and concerns.

"I think it is encouraging that there seemed to be a sense consumers
wanted to do their bit but it comes back to consumer realism that when they do their bit they want to know what that bit means and to make sure they are not picking up additional, unfair costs," he said.

At the end of a week which has seen further cuts in domestic energy prices, Mr Buchanan defended the competitiveness of the British market.

However, he warned there were challenges from higher wholesale gas prices and rising coal prices.