British Gas follows Scottish Power's Lead

[Sharpe's Company]

Yes, today British Gas has said they're increasing electricity prices by 16% and gas by 18%.

Already this year they have made increases and overall it's been a 25% increase.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/10359e20-a...#axzz1RYHUix50

So much for Privatisation being cheaper, another Thatcher Myth being exposed!

Has Privatisation Helped?

Privatisation definitely helped at first, with the aid of North Sea gas. However, as supplies of that have dwindled, gas has to come from other sources, which means Europe, specifically Eastern Europe, through what are called interconnectors. The prices are agreed well in advance, so if suppliers buy at a high price, they need to pass it on to their customers, both industrial and domestic, which they tend to do quickly.That can squeeze costs for industrial users, and also means domestic customers end up paying a lot more, as energy companies cannot absorb all the increases themselves and remain profitable – and since they’re not state companies, profitability is the name of the game. According to regulator Ofgem, only 51% of the amount domestic customers pay in their bills is made up of the wholesale cost of gas. To be fair, in 2004 British industrial and domestic customers were still paying less for gas than other European countries.

For the last few years, prices have continued to rise. There have been some reductions, but they’ve ended up being far outstripped by the increases, to the point where gas bills are now well over double what they were in 2004.

It’s a state of affairs that has led some to call for the re-nationalisation of the gas industry. That, however, is realistically never going to happen, as there are massive profits to be made – which means plenty of taxes to be paid to the government – and the government simply wouldn’t be able to afford to re-nationalise and maintain and develop the infrastructure. Where things go depends a lot on the supply of gas in the future.
http://www.utilitycharges.co.uk/

Power to the people, Nationalistion!!

[Sharpe's Company]

I'm guessing no one cares then about this.

Let me guess you all live at home with Mum and Dad and they pay the bills.

If it wasn't for the NOTW this would be the main headline in the UK. I have already heard some lefties saying that this is why they have announced these price hikes at this time, to use the current crisis to mask it.

These prices increases are a disgrace, expect more anger on the streets, more protests and walk outs.

[Sharpe's Company]

PRIVATISATION = PROFITS FOR THE BOYS
NATIONALISATION = PROFITS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

British Gas (profits £740m) will add £200 to hard-pressed families' bills
http://www.scotsman.com/news/British...ill.6798502.jp

[Shneckie]

s sake man. The government is clearly in no position to nationalise the gas industry as you said so what's with the fist pumping?

[Sharpe's Company]

s sake man. The government is clearly in no position to nationalise the gas industry as you said so what's with the fist pumping?

Being in Scotland, you have seen first hand at the mistake that was handing over our Gas and Oil to private companies to make profits. Tony Benn was right in the 1970s, those reserves should of been nationalised and safeguarded for the interest of the British People, but they were not, and they destroyed the Industry now.

We can Nationalise when ever we wish.

How come we can find money to give to Greece, Portugal and Ireland but not for public services and our Nation's Commonwealth.

The Wealth in the Ground of our Nation is as much ours as it is the shareholders.

[HissingNewt]

Being in Scotland, you have seen first hand at the mistake that was handing over our Gas and Oil to private companies to make profits.

No you evidently just did it wrong. Take a look at American oil companies. Those guys make a ton of money.

[Derbiean]

I'm guessing no one cares then about this.

Let me guess you all live at home with Mum and Dad and they pay the bills.

If it wasn't for the NOTW this would be the main headline in the UK. I have already heard some lefties saying that this is why they have announced these price hikes at this time, to use the current crisis to mask it.

These prices increases are a disgrace, expect more anger on the streets, more protests and walk outs.

They sure are a disgrace and it is even more of a disgrace that it is allowed to continue especially with all the cuts we are facing "we are all in this together" empty rhetoric. For too long we've let it slide and i sincerely hope there is more anger on the streets, more protests and walk outs, hell i say its time to say enough is enough and bring the country to standstill

[Admiral Piett]

I'm guessing no one cares then about this.

Let me guess you all live at home with Mum and Dad and they pay the bills.

You know its ironic when you indirectly insult the entire forum you're trying to convince when you yourself are only a few years older.

[Big War Bird]

You know its ironic when you indirectly insult the entire forum you're trying to convince when you yourself are only a few years older.

A remember a while back an informal survey showed that the average age was about 30 on these boards.

[Big War Bird]

Your lights are still on, I see.

[Big War Bird]

I'm wondering at utility of explaining basic economic concepts to you.

I'm thinking that sooner or later what we will find is that you want something for nothing. Am I wrong?

[Sharpe's Company]

I'm wondering at utility of explaining basic economic concepts to you.

I'm thinking that sooner or later what we will find is that you want something for nothing. Am I wrong?

Why don't you put down your own opinion. Thus far all you have done is make patronising comments.

So tell us, Please tell us about your views on Corporate Fascism and how you love it so much. Anyone who backs the current capitalist free-market is a Fascist, you allow these corporations to run people into ground, to keep the inequality gap between the classes. You love to see Tesco and others putting our milk farmers out of business because the major corporations are importing cheap milk from europe.

People like you, you thatcherites have destroyed the UK, made the people poor, turned our nation into a laughing stock the world over.

And I suppose you're loving how Siemens have won the contract to make trains for the UK now, what great business you no doubt think.

Do you employ cheap polish labour too, you seem the type.

[Big War Bird]

I don't think you are using the terms "fascist" or "corporate fascism" correctly.

And when you say you Tesco is importing cheap milk and harming local farmers, are you really suggesting that everyone would be better off by paying more for milk?

I am at a loss to understand your economic philosophy, on the one hand you demonize profits and then other hand you seek to use government power to protect the profits of a very small group of people at the expense of virtually every person in the country.

[Sharpe's Company]

We could have been as rich as Norway

Read more: http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/5523,n...#ixzz1RdxLxKTs

But the Tories and the Labour shills in Callaghan's Government thought otherwise, how wrong are they now with the North Sea Oil and Gas almost gone.

Yet more wastage.

[Big War Bird]

On he face of it completely untrue. Norway has about half all North Sea oil and gas reserves. Even if the UK had the other half (it doesn't) the population of the UK is many times that of the Norway. The UK could never be as rich as Norway via North Sea oil and gas.

Now now there are plenty of threads about the US economy to be had. I'd hate to see this thread which holds so much promise be derailed because the OP suddenly wants to go off on a tangent about US debt.

Do you employ cheap polish labour too, you seem the type.

Cheap labor appears to me not matter the nationality. I've been known to get a Mexican from a gas station from time to time.

[Thorn777]

I completely agree with the OP. Many privatizations need to be returned. And in my country Germany, its even in the constitution that govt can re-nationalize former public assets at any given time. Sadly they wont ever the way things look today. They are all just waiting for that triple salary corporate board job at the regional energy supplier, or whatever may drive them doing the things they do against the public interest.

[Big War Bird]

The obvious thing to do here is to internationalize Norway. They need to pay their fair share. They are trust fund babies and coupon clippers. Maybe there should an estate tax imposed every time a Norwegian dies, paid to the UN.

[Thorn777]

Yeah, those guys. I live comfortably knowing those guys make a ton of money. I gladly pay more at the gas-station, knowing those guys have their eyes on our elected officials, start up a little ruckus here and there to compliment their share of the market, and at the end of the day those natural resources don't end up paying for schools and all that socialist stuff.

These guys are just to deserving!

[HissingNewt]

Yeah, those guys. I live comfortably knowing those guys make a ton of money. I gladly pay more at the gas-station, knowing those guys have their eyes on our elected officials, start up a little ruckus here and there to compliment their share of the market, and at the end of the day those natural resources don't end up paying for schools and all that socialist stuff.

These guys are just to deserving!

Listen, I don't know how it is over in Europe, but in America, those big corporations do more to help our government function than your average citizen, considering the corporations will actually pay taxes most of the time.

[Denny Crane!]

Poor in the 70's under Labour. Rich in the 80's 90's and 2000's after thatcherism. Yeah lets go backwards!

There is a serious debate in here somewhere but I fear it isn't for this thread.