UK Utility Companies. Do you think they should nationalised again?

Question

With all the millions of pounds worth of profits of what is bascilly a nescessity in our homes.
Especially water!
Do you think the government should make these national assets again?

The water companies ( like the gas electric owned by overseas companies)

supply us at extortionate prices, and they have power to stop all these supplies.

Is it fair that companies should make such a VAST profit, when so little is returned to the customers.

Dont shout out about jobs and wages. because thats not the issue.

Im on about a life giving substance like water, that nature has supplied to the UK in abundance.

And its now a commodity??

The system at present is profit ran?

What is your view on these supplies going back to nationalised status.

And what would you do ti make your voice heard over this issue?

Answer 1

rip off Britain was Maggie's legacy for us and 25 years later we are still paying the price of her policies. she stole public utilities that you and i owned collectively to an elite few that could afford the shares. yes we should have these companies back in public ownership. the profits made would help lower our taxes or would they? all governments need to keep control of the population western governments do it by financial means . third world by fear and force

Answer 2

Even in the U.S. most urban water is supplied through a government-run service as is the sewer system. It can be misused to force annexation into cities and if a water line is put on your property you must hook up to it, even when you have a perfectly safe well. Electricity and natural gas are often bought by cities for resale to residents. Some states have regulatory boards that oversee utility pricing to prevent price gouging by these monopolies, yet these companies are owned by many shareholders who expect a profit on their investment. They make enough profit to improve their service too. There are also many electric cooperatives, where each customer is an owner with a vote on how the company is run and who is hired to run it, they are very successful.

Nationalization would put bureaucrats and politicians in charge instead of the people with the knowledge of how to run the companies. Bureaucrats will let things break down to show how much money they can save, politicians want to keep costs low in order to get votes. The utilities then are always breaking down and seldom improving because there is no incentive, no profit in providing good service and making improvements.

Don't vote for those who want to nationalise, vote for their opponent. That is the best way to make your voice heard. Sure, you can write letters, sign petitions, work for your candidates, talk to people, but ultimately you have to win at the ballot box.

The craziest thing is bottled water, taken from a public tap, filtered and pasteurized, costs more than gasoline. Then to top it all off the various bottlers spend millions, which is included in the price, trying to convince you that their water is better than someone else's water. It's just WATER!!! And all you can complain about is that some company providing good cheap tap water is run by someone who makes a tenth of the salary of the head of a bottled water company, while you buy that bottled water happily, convinced that it is better than other water.

Governments never run things better than private or investor owned companies. They have no reason to.

Answer 3

You are talking about 3 or 4 different issues at once here and to be honest you aren't making sense.
1. Water. Clearly we all need it, but you try catching it, cleaning it, storing it and pumping it through your kitchen sink, bath and shower just when you want it. And disposing of it and all your waste without even having to think about it. It all costs honey!!
2. Gas. I recall being in a primary school class in the early 70's and being told about the sheer marvellousness of our natural gas supplies, right under the earth with enough to last over 30 years. Someone in the class asked what would happen when it ran out - teacher said - Then we'll start paying for it! How right she was.
3. Without the possibility of profit, why would the companies that do, do what they do?
4. I'm guessing you are too young to remember how utterly inefficient and inept the nationalised bodies were.

Unless you are willing to be totally self sufficient honey, there ain't no way out!!!

Answer 4

I use to work for a contractor for a water company, a big one based in west yorkshire. Do you know they charge £110 a metre to line a pipe? Basically that means spray a coating on the inside of an existing pipe to make it last another 20 years!

I could tell you some tails. Yes, they should make these companies national assets again. And everything else.

It's my opion infact that the government seem to be systematically getting rid of the Great in Great Britain.

Thye should be shot at dawn!

Answer 5

i never agreed when the nationalisation craze took over but having seen what the utilities have got up to since going private i will be in the front line and say yes re-nationalise the bloody lot and perhaps it might stop all these big retirement pay offs

Answer 6

Water should DEFINATELY be re-nationalised, because it's impossible to have competition as to who provides your water - they're regional companies, you can't live in Manchester and have your water provided by Wessex water. Therefore they can do whatever they like - and if you don't like it then you go thirsty. There is no point in having privatised water companies if there is no competition, and therefore no impetus for companies to improve service.

Answer 7

Yes they should never have been privatised in the first place thank you maggie.

Answer 8

Just realize that if you nationalize service will suffer, prices will go up, and quality will evaporate