Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/529/4025
From The Socialist newspaper, 16 April 2008
Water 'regulators' hide real prices
ONE OF the many myths about privatisation is that privatised industries are 'regulated' to stop them carrying out anti-social activities. The water industry regulator Ofwat negotiates with the private water companies and announces every spring how much water bills will be allowed to rise.
Last month they announced that water and sewerage charges across Britain would rise by an average of 5.8%. In fact the average increase is well above this.
United Utilities was said to have agreed a 7.5% rise in water bills for its north-west customers. However, unmetered customers will be paying between 8.5% and 8.9% more.
Likewise Thames Water was supposed to bring in a 3.8% rise but unmetered customers will see bills rise by 5.4%, low-user metered customers will pay 6.4% more, while high-use meter users will pay 6.9% more. Similar hikes were seen all over the country.
Ofwat, it seems, included a number of customers who were expecting to change to a meter in their calculations - some of these customers in big houses using little water would see their bills come down, thereby reducing the 'average' rise.
Regulation for Ofwat seems another word for hiding the truth about their charges' anti-social activities. Renationalise all privatised utilities such as the water companies under the democratic control of working-class people!
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 16 April 2008:
'We're striking against low pay'
Editorial: 24 April strikes: step forward in pay battle
Unison witch-hunt
Unison witch-hunt: Defend 'the four'
National Shop Stewards Network
Workplace news and analysis
Re-elect a fighting PCS leadership
Global food crisis
Global food prices: anger erupts in mass protests
Socialist Party election campaign
Health campaigners fight council cuts
Standing up for socialism: candidate list
Campaign for a New Workers Party - conference 2008
Socialist Party feature
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill: why all the controversy?
Socialist Party news and views
Housing crisis: Britain's house of cards
Tax attack hits low paid workers
Water 'regulators' hide real prices
International socialist news and analysis
Rising class struggles across Europe
Italian election: new Berlusconi victory will provoke mass opposition
France 1968: 10 million workers occupied factories
France 1968: month of revolution by Clare Doyle
The radical life of Martin Luther King
Socialist Students
Portsmouth Activists Academy day of debate
Home | The Socialist 16 April 2008 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
