Steel industry campaigners tonight urged the Tories to be ready to intervene as some firms suspend operations amid soaring energy costs.
Prices have rocketed in recent weeks - forcing some companies to halt production.
The Mirror told earlier this year how cash-strapped British metals’ firms pay twice as much for electricity as French rivals and 50% more than German counterparts.
An industry study, The Energy Price Scandal: A Fair Power Deal for UK Steel, showed the average electricity price for steel producers in the UK is about £65 per megawatt hour (Mwh), compared with £31/MWh in France and £43/MWh in Germany.
Experts warned then the extra overheads will hamper attempts to make the industry more environmentally-friendly by slashing emissions.