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-   -   Utility companies - price rises (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33695452)

Carth 11-08-2018 10:16

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35958869)
. . . what we have currently is a cartel which fails the customer dismally and makes huge profits for the owners..

Sadly this describes much more than Utility companies. Businesses try to attract investors by offering good returns on their cash input . . and there's only one set of people who end up paying for those returns.

richard s 11-08-2018 20:39

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Greed comes to mind here then.... which equals stuff the customers.

Mr K 11-08-2018 21:31

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy (Post 35958867)
Nationalisation is not the answer that some think. You only have to look at the economic disaster that is Venezuela to see where that leads.

Some sort of cap on tariffs/profits might be the answer. Theresa promised this (copying Ed Miliband), but hasn't delivered. Poor show old girl.

pip08456 11-08-2018 22:17

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy (Post 35958867)
Nationalisation is not the answer that some think. You only have to look at the economic disaster that is Venezuela to see where that leads.

Nationalisation can be a good thing, Venezuela's problem is Socialism and corruption.

It is also worth noting that nationalsation doesn't just mean taking over a company/companies. The Government have to buy out the investors. In Venezuela the socialist Government just took them over, the outcome was obvious.

If you want to talk about the rail companies prior British Rail then that is a different matter. They were all on the verge of collapse following the 2nd world war due to Government debt, part of that the debt still owed by the Government following the 1st world war.

During both conflicts the rail industry worked flat out supplying industry with the raw materials it needed, transporting troops and munitions on Government promisory notes. It got even worse during the second conflict because instead of the necessary upgrades and improvements money had to be diverted to necessary repairs due to the bombing.

There was no alternative to privatisation of the railways otherwise there would be none now. They were cheap to buy.

So as imperfect as it is (due to lack of investment) nationalisation saved the railways.

denphone 12-08-2018 06:11

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 35959016)
Some sort of cap on tariffs/profits might be the answer. Theresa promised this (copying Ed Miliband), but hasn't delivered. Poor show old girl.

Its amazing how many things us the electorate are promised by UK politicians and yet so many of them either don't turn out the way we hoped for or never happen at all.

Hugh 13-08-2018 18:41

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 35959016)
Some sort of cap on tariffs/profits might be the answer. Theresa promised this (copying Ed Miliband), but hasn't delivered. Poor show old girl.

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35959052)
Its amazing how many things us the electorate are promised by UK politicians and yet so many of them either don't turn out the way we hoped for or never happen at all.

It was granted a Royal Assent on the 19th July 2018, and is now an Act of Parliament (law).

https://services.parliament.uk/bills...tariffcap.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/v...-to-become-law
Quote:

The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill will put in place a requirement on the energy regulator, Ofgem, to cap standard variable and default energy tariffs. The cap will tackle the amount consumers have been overpaying the Big Six energy suppliers, which the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found to be an average of £1.4 billion a year. Some consumers could save up to £350 a year on gas and electricity bills by switching suppliers...

...The cap will be in place from the end of 2018 until 2020 when Ofgem will recommend if the cap should remain on an annual basis up to 2023. Ofgem will review the level of the cap at least every 6 months while it is in place.

Mr K 13-08-2018 20:19

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35959319)
It was granted a Royal Assent on the 19th July 2018, and is now an Act of Parliament (law).

https://services.parliament.uk/bills...tariffcap.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/v...-to-become-law

So before this cap comes in, they are going to increase prices massively.... We really cut them off at the pass there !

richard s 14-08-2018 19:42

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Now a 3 and half percent rail fare increase. Jeeeze.

heero_yuy 15-08-2018 09:01

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Quote from richard s:

Now a 3 and half percent rail fare increase. Jeeeze.
Now, now, Richard. Think positive: You're giving overworked, underpaid train drivers an above inflation pay rise. ;)

richard s 15-08-2018 19:46

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Don't forget the share holders! and the bosses.

Mr K 15-08-2018 21:01

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy (Post 35959611)
Now, now, Richard. Think positive: You're giving overworked, underpaid train drivers an above inflation pay rise. ;)

Yes, it's an old Tory ploy. Try and turn the public against those working to deliver each day. Meanwhile those shareholders/directors rake off the profits for delivering a crap service. Welcome to 2018 Britain !

denphone 15-08-2018 21:12

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy (Post 35959611)
Now, now, Richard. Think positive: You're giving overworked, underpaid train drivers an above inflation pay rise. ;)

Once they get rid of the guards they are likely to be even more overworked.;)

Mr K 15-08-2018 21:26

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35959831)
Once they get rid of the guards they are likely to be even more overworked.;)

Or maybe we'll be less safe ( and still late !)

denphone 16-08-2018 05:03

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 35959837)
Or maybe we'll be less safe ( and still late !)

Most definitely still late if this is a fair barometer of many commuters on our railways.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...-terrible-mess

denphone 07-02-2019 07:40

Re: [MERGED] Utility companies - price rises
 
Energy price cap hike to add £117 to bills.

https://news.sky.com/story/energy-pr...bills-11630299

Quote:

The price cap on default energy tariffs is to be increased by an average £117 from 1 April, regulator Ofgem has announced.
Quote:

Ofgem blamed higher wholesale gas and electricity costs for the rise, affecting 11 million customers - with a typical dual fuel customer seeing an annual bill go up from £1,137 to £1,254.
Quote:

"We can assure these customers that they remain protected from being overcharged for their energy and that these increases are only due to actual rises in energy costs, rather than excess charges from supplier profiteering."


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