MSE News: We'll freeze energy prices, Ed Miliband tells Labour conference

ollski

cepheus wrote: »

When the utilities were privatised there were caveats, including the ability of governments to intervene if consumers thought they were getting a raw deal. This may happen now, and should be known to any competent shareholder who takes this risk.

Governments know consumers are not getting a raw deal though. They are just acutely aware they think they are hence the empty promise.

posh*spice

Nilrem wrote: »

Opinion polls don't mean **** though when it comes to the facts.

And the facts tend to show that the likes of British Gas don't actually make much profit (as a percentage of the cost) from retail customers (us!).
They tend to make it from their sideline businesses (things like boiler servicing, insurance and the like.

Have you any evidence to back this up or do you just believe all the crap coming out of BG's PR department?

posh*spice

Totality wrote: »

Everybody wants lower gas and electric bills. I still don't think Ed - even if he gets in, which I don't believe he will - can deliver on this pledge without us all getting stiffed somewhere along the line.

So let's all sit around and do nothing and accept the status quo...

...I'm surprised you can find the motivation to get out of bed in the morning:D

posh*spice

jestyenot wrote: »

What have the big 6 been investing back into the industry, they have been putting money into wind farms, we pay for that though through our energy bills but I doubt very much they are or have been investing in new power plants, if they have I have never heard of it, in fact some have moth bald gas producing plants.

Look at E,ON they pulled out of investing in nulclear plants in this country and EDF are trying to blackmail this government to guarantee them double the price for the electricity, which we will again pay for through our bills.

Ain't that the truth...

posh*spice

Totality wrote: »

And the possibility of a price freeze in 2015 is going to lead to even less investment, surely?

You can't have less than no investment....not possible...

Totality

posh*spice wrote: »

So let's all sit around and do nothing and accept the status quo...

...I'm surprised you can find the motivation to get out of bed in the morning:D

I'm not saying let's sit around and do nothing.

I'm saying Ed's big idea is no good.

posh*spice

samizdat wrote: »

Of course, there are genuine problems of market failure in the utility industry, but this is not the way to deal with them.

Suggestions???

posh*spice

minislim wrote: »

the biggest danger to the uk economy is in the form of labour!

almost every counter measure they come up with against the coalition is typical of labour!

unrealistic, unaffordable, unsustainable and down right stupid!

these are the key reasons we got into a mess in the first place!

that is the one and only reason why they should not be allowed anywhere near the running of this country!

Gosh thank you for your informed post - I'm blinded by your knowledge of the energy industry. The information you have provided will help me understand more fully that which is such a complex topic

Now run along....I'm sure someone at Tory central office must have some tea for you to make lol!

posh*spice

samizdat wrote: »

Politics and long-term investment just don't mix very well, and the fact that Miliband has cynically sought to exploit this issue for short-term political gain is just a very bad idea, and hugely damaging to his credibility. It is also damaging to the attractiveness of the UK to investors, and yes, we do need to attract investors.

Why do you think they have? Most people instinctively know that something stinks here, don't they? Let's be honest nobody truly knows !!!!!! is going on - they only know that the cost of energy has doubled in a few years. Why hasn't the coalition done something? Expalined things better? They've had 3 years!

Expain this to me - why would Which? be saying that the consumer is being stiffed if they weren't?

cepheus

What are the views of the critics of this scheme with regard to the present government underwriting mortgages and fuelling the housing bubble? Surely this is far more dangerous and just as interventionist?