The Australian Energy Market Operator chief executive Audrey Zibelman said the federal government would have no choice but to put more regulation on electricity retailers if they could not show how they were going to cut prices, especially on low-income households.

With seven energy retailers summoned to Canberra to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday, Ms Zibelman said the companies needed to show they had a specific plan to put downward pressure on prices.