http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/hinkley-point-reasons-not-to-be-suspicious-of-chinese-investment-a7166576.html Reasons not to be suspicious of Chinese nuclear investment A rather curious article from Ben Chu and the Independent, essentially telling the readers that there is nothing to worry about in having huge Chinese involvement in the generation of nuclear power in this country. Rather in the same way as George Osborne heaped praise and encouragement on Chinese investments in the United Kingdom up until a few weeks ago. Add caption I recently wrote that personally, I have never been enthusiastic about the Hinkley Point C development. The spiralling costs of the project, which are confidently expected to rise even more and the evidence that time-scale (which is already three years late) will extend well beyond the completion date of 2020, are in themselves sufficient grounds for abandoning the project now. Added to that, the unit p...
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https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jul/28/hinkley-point-c-to-go-ahead-after-edf-board-approves-project Hinkley Point C in fresh doubt after government delays approval New Hinkley Point nuclear plant in doubt The government has delayed a final decision on the Hinkley Point power station until "the autumn at least". The announcement was made on the day that the contract with the French firm EDF, was due to be signed. Why, after all the euphoria of the past few days, has the government had this sudden attack of cold feet? Perhaps the fact that similar projects is Europe are running £billions over budget and at least 5 years behind schedule, has something to do with it. The new power station at Hinkley point was always a bad idea, with cost, project delays and questionable technology being three of the many reasons for not going ahead with the construction. Hinkley point is a bad idea and should be abandoned as soon as possible.
Inflated direct debit from consumers really is a nice little earner. EDF are really a bunch of wide boys who would be very much at home dressed in sharp suits, dark shirts, white ties and wearing spats on their shoes, selling stockings, perfume and other assorted nick knacks from an open suitcase, whilst looking around for the possible arrival of a bobby on the beat. They were insisting that I should pay more than the usual £96 per month direct debit which had been the norm for some months. I was on their "best tariff" they said. I switched supplier and have just had my tariff reduc ed to £33 (from £38) per month direct debit. We have the same or broadly similar consumption as in the past (the cottage is all electric) and even after the winter there seems to have been no change to the amount of electricity used. Either global warming has taken effect with our cottage is getting warmer and using less electricity to cook, or EDF have be...
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 ...
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 ...
Arrogance and greed of the privatised energy companies I have just had another telephone conversation with EDF, (our supplier of electricity, who who will soon be our FORMER supplier.). After the usual 20 minutes of brain-dead “music”, interrupted at various times by a monotone voice repeating a selection of options, I was eventually connected to a human. The background to this latest “frank exchange of views” revolves around the arrogance and greed of the privatised energy companies and their treatment of their victims otherwise known as customers. In early June, we received a demand for an increase in our direct debit payment from £75.00 per month to £83.00, following their “review” of our energy consumption. This arbitrary figure was arrived at not withstanding a £400.00 credit from the previous bill and a £70.00 credit on the current bill. This request prompted a phone call to EDF and after the 20minute “music break” someone at ...