But the principle is the same, is it not?That was a bit more extreme than what I said.
But the principle is the same, is it not?That was a bit more extreme than what I said.
Yes but I was replying to someone talking about people moving from the North to the South for more money, not a brain surgeon selling pies in Ilkley so they didn't leave the town.But the principle is the same, is it not?
In 1990 BT was subject to independent regulation by Oftel - presumably, it was Oftel and not the government that made the decision that BT had to sell off any of its operations at this time?
Who privatised British Telecom and took away its role as the automatic telecoms infrastructure provider for the UK? And who created oftel?
Nobody. BT still has USO obligations.....and took away its role as the automatic telecoms infrastructure provider for the UK?
Not quite sure of the point, but in 2017, just how much choice does everyone have in providing an internet connection ?
Well, here I have the choice of dozens of different providers over a cable owned by BT, Virgin Media over a different cable, and three different mobile networks, either direct or via a reseller.
I accept that that's not the case everywhere, for technical/economic/political reasons.
I don't think it is the same for gas and electric, it is uterly ridiculous. The gas and electricity comes from the same rigs and power stations. It is a bizarre cabal.Of course the same goes for Gas and Electric etc......but sticking to the transport theme, how much choice does the average UK air traveller to Europe now have? And at what sort of prices? Isnt it true that since aviation was de regulated and real competition introduced, more an dmore of us are now flying off somewhere in Europe? The impact of competition on railways is far less pronounced, but where it has been feasible, isnt it true that a traveller from Birmingham to London has some choice ? And some on the ECML?
I don't think it is the same for gas and electric, it is uterly ridiculous. The gas and electricity comes from the same rigs and power stations. It is a bizarre cabal.
It pretty much is a monopoly. How do you reckon one company is buying gas or electricity cheaper than another when they don't produce or supply the product? Race to the bottom.No.....I have some choice as to who to choose to supply my gas and electric....how the chain of supply is organised is of no concern to me. Having one operator who controls the entire generation and supply of power with no price signals from the consumer is the ultimate monopoly.
It pretty much is a monopoly. How do you reckon one company is buying gas or electricity cheaper than another when they don't produce or supply the product? Race to the bottom.
Race to the bottom.
*Just thinking of a compromise method to keep the capitalists happy and to be realistic in our current (western industrial) economic model...
Going back to the very early days on the canals and railways, if there were none of those said capitalists, how much of the canal and railway systems of Britain would have been built in those days?
Going back to the very early days on the canals and railways, if there were none of those said capitalists, how much of the canal and railway systems of Britain would have been built in those days?
Going back to the very early days on the canals and railways, if there were none of those said capitalists, how much of the canal and railway systems of Britain would have been built in those days?
You don't really have a choice though. You are just being charged what the energy providers think they can get away with. It all comes from the same places, having it privatised just adds is extra levels of cost to get the energy source to you.Like I said, I have no concern how the supply chain is organised. I have a choice as to who I buy my home power from. It doesnt get simpler than picking a supplier who can power my home.....and there are numerous companies all willing to provide that service at varying price points. I could even supply my own if I choose to fit solar panels.....solar panels of which there is now a decent market for with a good choice.
Those already wealthy. You are very easily wound up if that phrase makes you despair.I despair ever time I see that ridiculous phrase appear in print...
However, since racing terminology is being used, who is the current short-odds favourite to win this "race to the bottom"
You don't really have a choice though. You are just being charged what the energy providers think they can get away with. It all comes from the same places, having it privatised just adds is extra levels of cost to get the energy source to you.
Ha ha. Fair play. There is of course a difference between what gets quoted and what gets charged. I work in a specific area of housing and a lot of the rest of the building I work in deals with Smart Meters. I do get to hear all this.I really am going to put this simple as follows
A person with a flat in Liverpool has a budget of £40 per month for electric. He or she gets the following quotes...
Quote A £30/month
Quote B £35/month
Quote C £40/month
Now electricity does not come in different flavours .....it powers kettle Tvs and computers etc etc
The rational person choose Quote A........so my question to you is ....what does that person do with the £10 saving per month?
It really doesnt get any simpler than that.
Ha ha. Fair play. There is of course a difference between what gets quoted and what gets charged. I work in a specific area of housing and a lot of the rest of the building I work in deals with Smart Meters. I do get to hear all this.
Not at all. Since the product is all coming from the same place and going down the same wires or pipelines then someone, somewhere is losing out if someone is paying less for more.So then you will agree that the end user ( be it a flat, housing association or Network rail ) can influence the price of electrical supply based on their ability to purchase from more than one supplier? If so, eureka, welcome to the world of free maket competition !!!
Not at all. Since the product is all coming from the same place and going down the same wires or pipelines then someone, somewhere is losing out if someone is paying less for more.
That is next to impossible to argue with. Still someone is losing out though on something produced pretty equally. In an ideal world someone will find a way of quoting the cheapest price to everyone and then there will be no point in various companies providing it, or rather selling it.But not you as the end consumer paying £30/month. And if all constituents in the supply of electricity are happy and making a profit what is the issue ?
Someone is, indeed, losing out. But this is usually investors not getting as big a return on their investment which isn't necessarily a bad thing.Not at all. Since the product is all coming from the same place and going down the same wires or pipelines then someone, somewhere is losing out if someone is paying less for more.
Someone is, indeed, losing out. But this is usually investors not getting as big a return on their investment which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Give the work that has been put into making it easier to find out if cheaper tariffs are available - including suppliers being required to write to customers annually to tell them if they have a cheaper tariff, I don't have *that* much sympathy for people who don't switch.The other group who lose out is those who don't seek out the cheapest deal.
Give the work that has been put into making it easier to find out if cheaper tariffs are available - including suppliers being required to write to customers annually to tell them if they have a cheaper tariff, I don't have *that* much sympathy for people who don't switch.
Electricity, gas, telecoms, water, rail (and post) are alike in that there is only one trunk network, and in a lot of cases only one local distributor. Even the firms pretending to compete with Royal Mail have thrown in the towel, apart from the ones collecting pre-sorted mail and dumping the delivery on the post office.
The pretend "market" in gas and electricity supply is a fraud because the various grids' prices are just passed on. The water companies make their regulator a laughing stock.
The only competition is between gas from the north sea and gas imported from the middle east, but I recognise that there are a lot more sources of electricity nowadays. I still think that the pretence of competing suppliers costs us more than a managed supply to a National Gas board would, though.