http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/all-in-it-together-energy-chiefs-feel-heat-from-mps-8911466.html
The energy companies treat their customers with contempt because nobody is prepared, or able, to stop them. Consumers are unable to take on the companies because energy is a basic need and no matter how often people "switch" suppliers, the end result is ever increasing domestic charges. The political parties are unwilling to legislate to prevent such excesses and in many cases are more likely to actively support the energy companies position in the name of "free markets and competition".
The notion of "self regulation" in the supply of energy would be as effective in this market as it has been in any of the other areas where the fox has been put in charge of the chicken coop. The privatisation of energy supply to the consumer and generation for the wholesale market has been a complete disaster for the customer and the country. The absurdity of allowing Energy companies to be both generator and supplier has crated a situation where the companies, through another part of their own organisations can sell themselves energy and generate huge profits, and then claim that wholesale prices have increased using that as a justification for hiking the price to consumers and thereby generate even more profits. Thus, both parts of the organisation make substantial profit at the expense of the consumer. This situation is complete lunacy and has no moral, ethical or social justification. It merely serves as a device to exploit customers and produce obscene levels of profit for companies who in many case are actually based outside the United Kingdom.
Until such time as politicians recognise (or perhaps concede) that energy is a basic human need, the supply of which is too important to be left to the vagaries of private companies where the profit motive far outweighs the social benefits and that no amount of tinkering at the margins will make one iota of difference to the exploitation of consumers and the manipulation of the markets, nothing will change. The demand for a radical solution to this problem is compelling. Either the energy companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership. All that is needed is for the politicians to acquire the resolve to do what is necessary.
Representatives from Big Six accused of behaving like a 'chorus line acting in concert' as they attempt to justify recent price hikes
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| Energy company bosses at Commons select Committee |
The energy companies treat their customers with contempt because nobody is prepared, or able, to stop them. Consumers are unable to take on the companies because energy is a basic need and no matter how often people "switch" suppliers, the end result is ever increasing domestic charges. The political parties are unwilling to legislate to prevent such excesses and in many cases are more likely to actively support the energy companies position in the name of "free markets and competition".
The notion of "self regulation" in the supply of energy would be as effective in this market as it has been in any of the other areas where the fox has been put in charge of the chicken coop. The privatisation of energy supply to the consumer and generation for the wholesale market has been a complete disaster for the customer and the country. The absurdity of allowing Energy companies to be both generator and supplier has crated a situation where the companies, through another part of their own organisations can sell themselves energy and generate huge profits, and then claim that wholesale prices have increased using that as a justification for hiking the price to consumers and thereby generate even more profits. Thus, both parts of the organisation make substantial profit at the expense of the consumer. This situation is complete lunacy and has no moral, ethical or social justification. It merely serves as a device to exploit customers and produce obscene levels of profit for companies who in many case are actually based outside the United Kingdom.
Until such time as politicians recognise (or perhaps concede) that energy is a basic human need, the supply of which is too important to be left to the vagaries of private companies where the profit motive far outweighs the social benefits and that no amount of tinkering at the margins will make one iota of difference to the exploitation of consumers and the manipulation of the markets, nothing will change. The demand for a radical solution to this problem is compelling. Either the energy companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership. All that is needed is for the politicians to acquire the resolve to do what is necessary.
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