UK Energy Policy ??

One of the most egregious legacies donated to this country by Thatcher's Reign of Error was the disastrous series of privatisations she and her cabinets pushed through. All of them, with the exception of telecoms (and perhaps BP) have been nothing but trouble and hugely costly for the hard-pressed taxpayer.

Energy supplies to the home are simply not fungible. There is, and never can be, any real competition. The so-called "Big Six" (most of which are foreign owned - oh the irony!) have shafted the British consumer for years now. Under the current system there can never be a coherent energy policy.

Gas and electricity - along with water and the railways - should be re-nationalised forthwith.

Pity nobody's got the balls to do it.

I am all for competition, however I don't believe there is any in any of the power companies as they are all chasing the same customers, which is why they complicate the tarrifs to the point of making them so outragously difficult to fathom for most people who are short on time to sit down and work out.

There are some things, utilities being one that should really be nationalised, transport being another and this is me a conservative voter in the past, as private companies cannot be trusted on this issue in my oppinion. We really have sold off the family silver mostly to foereigners that do not have too much of a vested interest in us apart from squeezing us as hard as we will allow. Somethings got to change.

Have just kicked those toe rags British Gas + EDF Energy into touch. From 1st Nov its Atlantic Gas for me. My only regret is not doing it years ago.

Mista H

But being shafted by other Brits is OK?

IMHO - no it isn't.

We live in a global economy. Somehow capitalism, in its worst guise, has become globally "repectable" -ie provide as little as possible for as much as possible, anywhere its possible, for as long as possible.

I don't have a guaranteed, workable solution. We are dealing with human nature at its worst. But if there are any good ideas out there I will put them to my MP next time I meet him

Cheers

Don

Utilities are far too important to exist to pay shareholders a dividend. They should all be taken back into state ownership.

No need to worry about electricity prices as given the disasterous enegry policy of successive governments there soon won't be any to buy

Regards,

Willy

Energy privatisation has resulted in nationalisation but, malheureusement, to the benefit of foreign not UK governments.

100% behind you on this,but will any PM have the guts(and the money) to do it?

Mista H

And the ironic thing was that the energy companies have said they'll now have to raise their base price to implement Cam's plans. 

NIce.

The guts - probably not - but re-nationalistion through primary legislation would require no money at all.

Yes,

Re-nationalise them now under primary legislation, sort them out, then in 10 years time, sell them off again to recover the cost of sorting them out.,

But, one step at a time - re-nationalise without compensation (there is very little, if any, material asset just the right to operate, maintain, repair, renew and enhance - all at the users cost as calculated by the energy companies

Cheers

Don

Atlantic Gas gets its newest customer in just over an hour - let us know how you get on Mistah.

Meanwhile, I understand the government will be releasing their Energy Bill in a few weeks time - electrifying !!

.......and crucial to us all. (I hope for a ban on future land based wind turbines)

Cheers

Don

Government policy? That would be a first.

Hello again Don

Have just been onto the website....company check......Atlantic Gas have a nett worth of over 300 Million quid and Utility Warehouse appx 50 Million quid,so both rock solid unlike some hi-fi retailers i have just checked out who are hanging on.....but ONLY just and not worth a light.

Mista H

They forum is basically right, the utilities were sold off in the 80's by Maggie to fund tax cuts promising cheaper electicity and gas for the public plus profit from the shares that could be bought. Short term thinking. As has been said energy companies loyalties are only to the share holder and they have no obligation to 'keep the lights on' as the old nationalised CEGB did. There is also a hidden government agenda, they need the price of electricity to rise. Reason, there will be no investment in the next generation of nuclear power stations desperately needed to replace the existing aging fleet of which all bar one, will be closed by byaround 2023. It takes 10 years to bring a new nuclear station on line from a green field site hence time is running (has run) out. Without a guaranteed minimum price per unit generated given by the government for the new stations no one will commit to building them and so we the public are once more held over a barrel whilst the short term thinking government(s) dither. No one wants to 'grasp the nettle' and sort this one as long as they can keep delaying it.

You are right - except even the shareholders don't get a lookin these days. The directors cream of the profits in remuneration packages and hand the crumbs to the shareholders.

The government need to take the energy system back into public ownership, with proper investment for the generation of a diverse and reliable supply as per the days of the CEGB.

No compensation to the current energy providers - they have taken enough out of the system already.

Cheers

Don