http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/after-power-furore-now-focus-turns-to-aboveinflation-rises-in-water-bills-8918351.html
Another of the privatised industries which, according to the pro privatisation propaganda from government at the time "will drive prices down and increase efficiency through increased competition".
That fairy tale has been used and repeated frequently over the years for the justification of privatising, not only water but also energy and most recently for Royal Mail. It now seems that the criticisms of privatisation made at the time and the predictions of profiteering and general misconduct by the new companies were and are, more than justified.
The wheels are falling off the privatisation wagon and the government are unwilling or perhaps unable to do anything about it other than mutter platitudes and rhetoric about bringing household bills down and regulating water companies, presumably in the same way that power companies are regulated and made more transparent.
I have consistently argued that there are certain commodities that are basic human needs, the supply of which is far too important to be left to the vagaries of private companies where the profit motive far outweighs the social benefits and the supply of water is certainly at the top that list. No amount of tinkering at the margins or reports or posturings by politicians will make one iota of difference to the exploitation of consumers and the manipulation of the markets.
The solution to this exploitation of consumers is the same for water as it is for energy. Either the companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership.
After power furore, now focus turns to above-inflation rises in water bills
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| The water companies |
Another of the privatised industries which, according to the pro privatisation propaganda from government at the time "will drive prices down and increase efficiency through increased competition".
That fairy tale has been used and repeated frequently over the years for the justification of privatising, not only water but also energy and most recently for Royal Mail. It now seems that the criticisms of privatisation made at the time and the predictions of profiteering and general misconduct by the new companies were and are, more than justified.
The wheels are falling off the privatisation wagon and the government are unwilling or perhaps unable to do anything about it other than mutter platitudes and rhetoric about bringing household bills down and regulating water companies, presumably in the same way that power companies are regulated and made more transparent.
I have consistently argued that there are certain commodities that are basic human needs, the supply of which is far too important to be left to the vagaries of private companies where the profit motive far outweighs the social benefits and the supply of water is certainly at the top that list. No amount of tinkering at the margins or reports or posturings by politicians will make one iota of difference to the exploitation of consumers and the manipulation of the markets.
The solution to this exploitation of consumers is the same for water as it is for energy. Either the companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership.
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