Should the energy industry be renationalised?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Strebor wrote: »

I can't post a link as a new user, so you'll have to copy and paste the address above

- welcome to the forum Strebor
- now you know why newbies are not allowed linking privileges
- 4 posts, in one hour, splattering the same whine all over the forum
- 4 posts, in one hour, imposing the same bleat in other peoples threads
- one would have been sufficient, and would have disrupted fewer members threads
- welcome to the forum Strebor, now you know why newbies are not allowed linking privileges

Strebor

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- welcome to the forum Strebor
- now you know why newbies are not allowed linking privileges
- 4 posts, in one hour, splattering the same whine all over the forum
- 4 posts, in one hour, imposing the same bleat in other peoples threads
- one would have been sufficient, and would have disrupted fewer members threads
- welcome to the forum Strebor, now you know why newbies are not allowed linking privileges

Thanks for your warm welcome ;-)

Southend1

Strebor wrote: »

Here is a related e-petition that aims to get the problem of wrong billing properly addressed.

Please consider signing it as it will get discussed in parliament.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

I can't post a link as a new user, so you'll have to copy and paste the address above.

I signed the one above as the current companies seem incapable of even running simple administration.

Thanks for your post and welcome to the forum.

Just for other users' information, the petition referred to has nothing whatsoever to do with renationalising the energy industry!

flyingjock1

MillicentBystander wrote: »

flyingjock1, I've already suggested earlier where the money could come from - by scrapping the future white elephant and prime example of political willy waving - HS2! Surely as these energy suppliers are forever stating their profits aren't anything special and it's such a hard business to be in they would be only too willing to be bought out?

ts.

Now that is a waste of money. Billions of pounds just so that a journey from north to south can be made 30 mins quicker. And all the collateral damage that will be done if it actually starts.

Strebor

Southend1 wrote: »

Thanks for your post and welcome to the forum.

Just for other users' information, the petition referred to has nothing whatsoever to do with renationalising the energy industry!

Cheers, hmmm I don't think it is unrelated to the re-nationalisation debate, as it contains one of the most contentious issues about the private companies not performing properly, over billing, not correcting simple error of their own making and aiming all this at the customer, a sitting duck of fixed address......ie a failed competitive market.

This is why so many people are fed up and calling for the utilities to be re-nationalised.

I did put that in the link, but offer further explanation as I do not think I deserve the suggestion that it is any kind of spam.

I wouldn't be surprised if the people that are in favour of re-nationalisation are inclined to agree with the e-petition.

Cheers

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

yangptangkipperbang

Could we have another poll ? Could we find out how many of those who said "Yes" actually experienced the absolutely dreadful service doled out by the old state monopolies before they were privatised ?

My "starter for ten" - I waited 6 months for my first 'phone line, then I only got a party line - BUT, during the wait the GPO relaxed its rules and I then had a choice of a black phone OR a green one !! Took me another 3 months to decide :D

Archbishop

Without any shadow of a doubt all public utilities should definitely be re nationalised...Despite the mediocre business acumen-as soon as you you take business profit out of the equation we can be sure they are run for us the public...not to line the pockets of greedy shareholders and the fat cats at the top, who even when they fail big time still ensure their bonus and pension remain intact.

I was a telephone engineer with the GPO, started in 1969-finished in 1992 as a Transmission Technical Officer. From the beginning of corporation day up till the magic PLC was added the industry became streamlined, the dead wood was removed and with staff loyalty it was number one telco, envy of the world...then the PLC business men moved in with their new upwardly mobile inducements to improve staff efficiency...BT went from a "family" networked cell environment, where engineers would work well beyond programmed hours to give the customer a service...they became a workforce who would not start a minute before due and not a minute past finishing. The in between they would perform their duty within their contract and no more. Seeing the writing on the wall it was just before all this kicked in that I left...I was one targeted to be offered early release...a long term fully trained & experienced expert, but offered release because my work contract, originally Civil Service with GPO was too bullet proof for their liking...there were many others who left then, taking a wealth of knowledge and experience, leaving managers-who were considered good at managing but with scant clue about what they were managing...the ones who survived played the figures, targets, returns-safe in the knowledge they would have a sideways promotion before the crap was found, and it would be down to the next to carry it on.

Pincher

I don't think you mean re-nationalised.
You mean the country should be run by engineers.

MBAs, accountants and Humanities students are dangerous if you let them touch any wiring, every plumbing connection will be done by Superglue, and the gutless wonders can't even carry stuff on a building site. Send them to organic farms and Safari zoos. Get them to shovel zebra manure to grow organic lettuce.

matelodave

I'd take issue with Archbishop - I worked for a company that supplied & installed equipment for the GPO and BT and throughout that time probably visited more 200 telephone exchanges & repeaters stations throughout the UK and was astonished at the waste. Over manning and over specification of equipment & services that went on during the GPO era. The staff were paid between two & three times more than any of us in the supplier sector.

It slowly started to improve when they were privatised but it wasn't until the likes of Mercury and other competition came along did we all (both customer and suppliers) see benefits of better technology, more choice and lower prices.

Overmanning was a joke, most exchanges had 2-3 time more people in then than were needed, many of them were running TV & radio repair shops in the exchanges. Equipment was overspecified and over ordered and the engineers stifled innovation and the introduction of new services.

If BT was still the nationalised GPO we'd all still have black phones with rotary dials on them and they'd all be nipping off on strike if someone upset them.

Archbishop

Spoken like true Maggie's Maid...well done son! Did it ever escape your notice that despite all the deadwood, and I am the first to admit it existed; but was largely dissipated when PLC came along-despite all this we were still top Telco and BT was the envy of the world and tin pot companies like yours...thats why we earned so much more! (BTW, we only came out on strike once for a few days)

matelodave wrote: »

I'd take issue with Archbishop - I worked for a company that supplied & installed equipment for the GPO and BT and throughout that time probably visited more 200 telephone exchanges & repeaters stations throughout the UK and was astonished at the waste. Over manning and over specification of equipment & services that went on during the GPO era. The staff were paid between two & three times more than any of us in the supplier sector.

It slowly started to improve when they were privatised but it wasn't until the likes of Mercury and other competition came along did we all (both customer and suppliers) see benefits of better technology, more choice and lower prices.

Overmanning was a joke, most exchanges had 2-3 time more people in then than were needed, many of them were running TV & radio repair shops in the exchanges. Equipment was overspecified and over ordered and the engineers stifled innovation and the introduction of new services.

If BT was still the nationalised GPO we'd all still have black phones with rotary dials on them and they'd all be nipping off on strike if someone upset them.