Private sector profits?

[observer]

Thought the Gov regulators were in buisiness to ensure competition and force prices down with the artificial energy market? I hear British Gas has just made 98% profit and prices are due to go up again - would Dick Turpin be proud of them.

[AdrianR]

supply and demand isnt it. Apparenlty we used more gas so they made more money. If apple sell more ipads wouldnt you expect them to make more money?

[Lt Kije]

Adrian, Obs knows nothing about supply and demand

[Bazj]

One area where the ombusman seems to be in favour of the supplier rather than the consumer is United Utilities ability to charge businesses for the water that drains from the roof of industrial premises and enters the UU drains!!

 

For my unit, we use about ?25.00 a quarter in water and waste water via the sink drains, loo etc. (so very little) but UU charge us ?400 every 6 months for the water that runs off the roof and because we are on an estate, we also get charged for the drainage to shared parking areas too!

 

The scheme was backed by the water watchdog! Lets hope it doesn't come to domestic premises too!

[Lt Kije]

?400 every 6 months for the water that runs off the roof and because we are on an estate

 

Thats theft Baz, can you get a refund as you can prove their has been less rain this year, They have imposed a hose pipe ban

[Evil Sid]

why not collect the rainwater in barrels and sell it to UU as they seem to be a bit short of water at the moment

[Bazj]

It is theft Kije..... pure and simple. As I said, we don't use a tenners worth of water a month, but get charged the exhobitant amount because the unit and its overall footprint is above a certain size!

 

They initially wanted ?1200 a year but we argued them down! Now bear in mind that that amount of money is charged to every one of the ten units on our small estate and you can see why their profits are so much!

 

It is called "surface area charging" google it!

[Lt Kije]

A crime against business