Rod Sims contradicts Coalition MPs' claims AGL is abusing market power

Head of ACCC shoots down talk AGL is breaching act, but says lack of energy competition is pushing up bills

The head of Australia's competition watchdog has quashed accusations from government MPs that AGL is misusing its market power by refusing to sell the Liddell power station to a rival - but says a lack of competition in the energy sector is inflating power prices for consumers.

Ahead of a major speech next week to the National Press Club on energy, the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, said AGL refusing to sell Liddell was not a breach of competition laws.