Anyone with half a notion of economics - Chancellors of the Exchequer for example - know that tax increases are passed onto customers through price increases. A 'windfall' tax is really the politics of envy - good Old Labour to the core. Jack-up taxes 'til the pips squeak and then crash out.

Thomas Gordon, London ,

The government collects17.5% VAT when you buy fuel, pay your electricity bill, pay your gas bill etc. If the government are concerned about reducing energy costs to the public, they should reduce the tax on energy bills. The higher the energy bills, the more in VAT the public pay.

Ian, Grangemouth, grangemouth, scotland

There should be a windfall tax, and the money used to fund tax relief on renewable energy projects that will bring the cost of electricity down in the long term for everybody. Throwing rebates at pensioners [many of whom are actually well-off] just puts the burden on working families

Richard, Bexhill, UK

So what, tax energy companies and...? They'll put the prices up even for!!

Mike, Bristol,

I agree it would silly in the extreme to tax the energy companies - they are part of the solution to the crisis by being the only means through which additional supplies of gas and oil can be discovered and developed. The government's windfall taxes are what should distributed to help those in need

Trevor, London, UK

for starters why dont westminster remove the 5% vat on fuel, the snp cant do it because it must come from westminster.

mike mckeary, paisley, scotland

How does a windfall tax help customers, far better to force the company to give refunds to the people they have ripped off.

Mick, Dreamland,

What if these companies took a leaf out of the Trade Unions book & closed down for a couple of days if a windfall tax was imposed.Could bring everyone to their senses

J Butcher, Leeds, UK

$7bn profit on a turnover of $111bn? 6% sounds pretty average return to me. If they want to go after the excessive profits, why not put a windfall tax on those total non-producers in the law and consultancy (service) professions?

Nigel, Woking,

The original bank windfall tax was to reclaim the profit that banks earned after they were forced to increase interest rates by the government.

That WAS a windfall tax, this is Theft.

Pedro, Stratford,

Windfall taxes are state theft, just like CGT and inheritance tax.

People who support these ideas think just like criminals, but don't recognise themselves.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Absolutely spot on. Not forgetting that this wouldn't touch the companies' executives but be borne eventually by shareholders - i.e. ordinary voters who happen to contribute to a pension

Anthony Martindale, Reading,

"You can not have energy companies boasting huge profits and the cost of fuel being close to118p a litre
Mike Collins, morpeth, uk"

You're ignoring the fact that 60% of that the 118p / litre is TAX. The fuel companies make about 1p / litre profit selling to you and I - hardly excessive profit.

Alan, Northampton, UK

I agree with Frank, stop supplying power to the cold and disabled, then they cannot complain.
Or make them charge as Nicola says, this will give us time to install solar panels and a wind turbine on each house and flat. Not sure whether we will be warmer.

BOB, Shrewsbury,

The profits need to be reinvested in exploration and production. This just does not happen, Brown wimped out on this 1 and clearly it seems like a case of the rich get richer and the poor, poorer. You can not have energy companies boasting huge profits and the cost of fuel being close to118p a litre

Mike Collins, morpeth, uk

A windfall tax will show that the regulator was not doing his job properly. It also will be another stealth tax . If I have been overcharge;I would want a rebate.

A Walton, Leicester, England

Windfall taxes don't work, so lets cap the amount we pay to the companies and have that go up in line with inflation that way if the companies want our service then they have to work at it and not just undercut the other.
Also make them be open with all the charges and where the money goes.

Nicola Clubb, Bournemouth, UK

Fleecing the tax payer has been a trade mark of Brownism.
Fleecing the energy Industry appears a logical progression.
Would it make any difference to the man in the street? I doubt it. Any windfall he takes is liable to be frittered away in a final splurge or plugging a very leaky financial boat.

philip, Ipswich,

The great Windfall Tax conspiracy. The watchdog sits by while utility companies overcharge the consumer.
Govt. impose Windfall Tax, taking it's huge share of the monies ripped off the consumer - allowing suppliers to retain some of the excess charges.
Surely a forced rebate would be a lot fairer?

Glenn, Brecon, Wales

Before the government decides to impose a windfall tax on the oil companies they should consider the impact on government finances of BP et al moving their residence to Ireland.

John, LONDON, ENGLAND

Why would anyone start or buy a business when their profits (Windfall Tax) and pension fund (dividends tax) can be stolen by the government after they have been legally earned.

Brian Gilbert, Hampton Middx, England

Winfall taxes are not the way forward: all it does is breed lack of certaintity and unsettle the markets, as well as encouraging business to move offshore. Let the tabloids put a fair position rather than jump up and down about fat cats and poor people.
Government is responsible for welfare.

William, London,

You make countless billions off the suffering of cold disabled pensioners and you pay a tiny fraction back to help. It's a no-brainer.

Frank, London,