British Gas to increase their prices.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....-prices-80-month.html

Is it not time that our Government stepped in to either cap energy prices or nationalise all utilities, because how much longer can the long suffering British public remain hostage to these money grabbing foreign owned utility companies?

If this isn't possible, and since it is British Gas who are the first to increase their prices each year, then why don't the majority of British Gas customers leave British Gas and put their gas and electricity needs in the hands of another supplier?

At least this would send them a message.

[DTCwordfan]

British Gas is foreign owned?

Now that is news.

I must call Phil Bentley and tell him.

[chaptazbru]

NPower are also going to increase prices (news at 4 on the radio).

[pdq1]

Just when they're thinking of taking away the pensioners winter fuel allowance.

[chaptazbru]

They'll be OK for this year, it's next year they have to worry about.

[youngmafbog]

Despite being a right winger I have always believed that basic utilities, Gas, electric, rail and buses belong in the public domain.

I think this latest, double inflation rise justifies my belief.

[Brenden]

Me too youngmafbog, do not think we own any of the utility companies now.

[LazyGun]

Yep, I have to agree - I think privatising our utilities was a big mistake, and we as consumers are paying the price now - the utilities were undervalued when sold, and we have a regulator incapable of controlling price rises.

It is difficult, when watching the companies mirror each other with numerous, overly complex tariffs and price rises and decreases in concert with each other, not to speculate about cartels, and unfair pricing.

[theshedman]

It does seem strange how the utility companies and railways made loses when in public hands but now they are privately owned they make huge profits. These type of companies in other parts of Europe are owned by the state and still manage to make a profit why can't they be like that in this country. Seems like they wanted to get rid of just to make a quick quid.

[ichkeria]

Yes indeed they certainly should be reined in - somehow.

[DTCwordfan]

and guess what, the prices in the market for gas supplies are very similar, the EU having to bring in a lot of its gas from Russia, the Ukraine, Algeria, and then from more distant parts such as Qatar - but then the prices of gas/tricity are often higher in the EU markets - and these state companies make losses/small profits, suggesting high inefficiencies

Then who is owning the BG Group and Centrica (who own BG Gas) if its not Brits......and then, sure nationalise them and see what happens to BG Groups substantial ownership of foreign assets (26% of two of the worlds largest new oil and gas fields in Brazil, bigger than anything the Saudis have) - now that would be intelligent.

[DTCwordfan]

http://epp.eurostat.e...estamp=20120522140751

[DTCwordfan]

I should have said retail prices in relationship to //but then the prices of gas/tricity are often higher in the EU markets//

[emmie]

according to the news report this morning, we have had cheap energy for a long time, i can't say that is true or not, but confess that i dread getting bills at the best of times.

[Gromit]

And unto all Margaret Thatcher's good work?

Surely that's a No!

[emmie]

Might have known you would blame her, i often wonder the reason she is vilified so often is because she is a woman, had this been a man, say Heath, would anyone have batted an eyelash.

[DTCwordfan]

why would we want to do that when our prices are among the lowest quartile in the EU....?

The issue of the winter subsidy is another one that is a Government issue, not the gas companies, and, yes, I agree with the view that removal would cost a lot for the Government as to "PR"

[emmie]

the trouble with nationalised industries is nothing gets done, just ask Richard Branson. He gave a very interesting and succinct interview about why the railways should not be renationalised, and i for one agree with him.
If we all left British Gas, not that is likely to happen, then surely the company goes belly up, thousands are then out of work, not sure how that is such a good thing.

[stewey]

I would be interested in knowing, just for comparison's sake, what some of you in the UK are paying for electricity. Here, in Southern Ontario, I am paying 0.075$C per KwH. This equates to about 0.047GBP.

[emmie]

not a clue, but it always seems a lot when the bill rolls around.

[Gromit]

em,

Heath was a big girls blouse.

And yes, he is vilified for many things not least getting us into Europe.