SO, a 19 per cent hike in gas and electric bills from August is announced and the consumer has no say in the matter. My business partner came up with a brilliant thought.

If every household in the country turned their gas off for just one day every week (obviously excluding the elderly and vulnerable), the demand for gas would drop.

And though the thieving utility companies would no doubt refuse to think again about their pricing, we could all cut our bills substantially, save unnecessary wastage and make a stand against the new dictators of our country... the main power suppliers.

In one eco-friendly sweep, we could make a stand to reduce their profits.

M. LEYTON, address supplied