LONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Four of Britain's largest mobilephone operators have agreed to government proposals to stopenforcing mid-contract price hikes and to cap bills from stolenor lost phones, as the cost of living shapes up as the top issuebefore an election in 2015.
The government said on Monday it would cut some green leviespaid by energy companies so they could cut prices.
EE , the market No. 1 with roughly 27million subscribers, Vodafone, Three andVirgin Media said they would allow customers to breakcontracts without penalty if their tariffs were raisedmid-contract, a Department of Culture and Media statement said.
No. 2 mobile operator O2, with about 23 million subscribers,said it was still in talks with Britain's government about theproposals.
O2 said in a statement, "We need clarity on what theguidance means for us and our customers before we can sign up toall the commitments referred to by Government."
It was not clear when the proposals on mobile phone charges- among some of the lowest in Europe - would be introduced, butthe government said it was aiming for the liability cap to be inplace from spring next year.
The government said the four mobile phone operators as wellas fixed-line providers BT, Sky and TalkTalk had also pledged to support European Commission-ledplans to eliminate roaming charges within Europe by 2016.
When the plans were unveiled in September, the commissionsaid they would foster a cross-border market for telecomsservices and spur investment in networks, but mobile operatorssay they would erode short-term profits.