http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/after-power-furore-now-focus-turns-to-aboveinflation-rises-in-water-bills-8918351.html After power furore, now focus turns to above-inflation rises in water bills 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 ...
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http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/30/david-cameron-inquiry-competition-energy-industry Cameron calls for immediate inquiry into competition in energy industry David Cameron at PMQ's Inquiries, reports, debates, select committees etc etc.More prevarication and side stepping of the real issues, by intent and design rather than accident. There is a principle in English law of "res ipsa loquitur" which, when used in the context of the current situation, could be interpreted as an argument for "cut the hot air, rhetoric and the endless chatter, and do what everyone, (except the energy companies and their political co conspirators) knows to be the only solution". Either the energy companies must be controlled by new, effective and legally enforceable legislation, or they must be returned to public ownership. There is no other option so there is nothing to discuss.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/all-in-it-together-energy-chiefs-feel-heat-from-mps-8911466.html Representatives from Big Six accused of behaving like a 'chorus line acting in concert' as they attempt to justify recent price hikes 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 ha...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-cameron-under-fire-for-reaction-to-british-gas-fuel-bill-hike-for-almost-8-million-customers-8885944.html David Cameron under fire for reaction to British Gas fuel bill hike for almost 8 million customers Cameron "regrets" this latest piece of energy company extortion, and along with other members of the ConDem coalition clique, advises British Gas customer to switch suppliers. Conveniently, Cameron and his other accomplices fail to mention that switching to another member of the power company cartel, has little if any, real benefit as they all fix their prices to ensure that they all have a "piece of the cake". The fallacy, trotted out by all of the power companies, is that the wholesale prices from their suppliers are increasing and that they have to pass on that increase in order to remain competitive. Perhaps SSE, Br...
Another member of the energy company cartel crawls out of the woodwork and announces hefty price increases.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/17/british-gas-_n_4113572.html?utm_hp_ref=uk British Gas Hikes Prices Up By More Than 10%, Adding £120 To Annual Bills This morning, British Gas crawl out of the woodwork, and announce price hikes of 10% for gas and 9% for electricity. The increases are effective from the 23rd of next month The second of the cartel members leap onto the wagon with their parasitic greed prompted justifications for stealing even more money from their customers. The government of course says nothing and does nothing. How much longer will public tolerance put up with these thieves taking money from families, and governments so in the pockets of the industry that they allow such outrageous behaviour to go unchallenged?
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/10/ed-miliband-sse-energy-price-rise Energy price rise sparks new political row over power bills Another member of the energy companies cartel, announces price increases way above the level of inflation, which will undoubtedly increase their already obscene levels of profits at the expense of the consumer. This news comes just weeks after a report in the “Guardian” warning consumers that “Energy firms expected to increase prices by 8%” and reported on this Blog on September 21st under the heading of “The energy suppliers cartel prepare to announce big price increases, again.” Even more evidence, if more were actually needed, that these predominately, but not exclusively, foreign owned energy companies, selling the wholesale energy product to themselves through a myriad of murky subsidiaries and associated companies, (each making substantial profits during the process), are out...
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/20/energy-firms-increase-prices Energy firms expected to increase prices by 8% The energy company cartel preparing everyone for their usual autumn round of extortionate price increases. This time they find another "reason" for ripping off the consumer by blaming "increased cost of environmental levies" as justification. Not content with "selling" energy to themselves through a myriad of different companies with the same ultimate "owner" (thinking that we have not noticed) and then blaming their suppliers for price increases, they now resort to a nebulous concept of environmental levies to defend their avarice. Privatisation may have been good for the companies,and ultimately for the institutional shareholders, but for the consumer it has been an unmitigated disaster. There is little point in following the advice of government ministers (who have their own agenda on this issue) and ...
http://news.sky.com/story/965230/british-gas-posts-23-percent-rise-in-profits British Gas Residential arm rose 23% to £345m in the six months to June 30. The rise in profits means that British Gas Residential made some £1.9m of profit a day as consumers struggle to cope after the average dual fuel bill rose to £1,310 a year - more than £200 higher than two years ago. As predicted, this parasitic energy supplier, heralds a 5% reduction in prices to the consumer earlier this year (having raised the price by 25% over the previous year), and STILL makes £345 million pounds profit in the first 6 months of 2012. Are prices being reduced next week? I do not think so. This profiteering at the expense of the consumer is obscene.