Should ESSENTIAL utilities be controlled by private companies.

[Hayabusa Rider]

Hmm, Enron?

Enron is an example of why proper regulation is needed. The nature of a utility is that it is a licensed monopoly, or close to it. Competition is scarce and separate infrastructures are wasteful, expensive and on the whole ridiculous. We do not need a return to the age of robber barons.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Still too much.

How much of a pay raise would you like next time you get a review.

How much increase are you getting on your investments? How much do you want?

 

[EagleKeeper]

My most recent electric bill is $121.00 (I participate in a program that rounds up the amount owed and contributes it to help provide electricity for the less fortunate) and the taxes and fees included in that amount came to $32.37.

so the Government is collecting a 25% profit?

and DCal wants to give them more

 

[Capt Caveman]

How much of a pay raise would you like next time you get a review.

How much increase are you getting on your investments? How much do you want?

And he doesn't expect the utility to make any money that can be used later for infrastructure upgrades/improvements.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Similar to the fiasco in Illinois where the rates climb to pay for needed improvements ASAP.

Pay now a little at a time or pay later in one large chunk; which has the least pain?

 

[BoberFett]

Please explain how this would be done. Have multiple electrical lines, sewer lines, water lines, etc? Streets constantly under construction to maintain all of this.

And why build infrastructure and provide service to remote areas or areas that wouldn't be profitable?

Since you can't think, ask someone for help before you post.

Not sure if you or the OP makes the more stupid threads.

Wow. Do you honestly think that there is no place on earth that has figured out how to have competing utilities use the same lines?

 

[waggy]

Similar to the fiasco in Illinois where the rates climb to pay for needed improvements ASAP.

Pay not a little at a time or pay later in one large chunk; which has the least pain?

Commonwealth Ed has a strangelhold on people. The government is not really looking out for the people with them either.

I'm not for state sponsored monopoly's.

 

[lotus503]

Which I think speaks more to systemic issues, not public vs. private. This could be fixed by overhauling campaign finance and how lobbying works, which would fix a ton of other problems too. So I am not disagreeing, just that I think this is a symptom of how campaigns are financed, and how lobbying is allowed to work and what lobbyists are allowed to get away with.

Totally agree

 

[Sonikku]

Of course they should control them. You want your basic essentials trusted by the corrupt government? I don't think so Liberals. The private businesses in contrast have your best interests at heart.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Wow. Do you honestly think that there is no place on earth that has figured out how to have competing utilities use the same lines?

/facepalm

Wow. Who forces them to do that? Not free market.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Totally agree

And yet when the bureaucracy has long had sole control over the issues I've mentioned they've failed, no bribes necessary, just complete unaccountability. When has that even proven a good idea?

 

[boomerang]

Please explain how this would be done. Have multiple electrical lines, sewer lines, water lines, etc? Streets constantly under construction to maintain all of this.

And why build infrastructure and provide service to remote areas or areas that wouldn't be profitable?

Since you can't think, ask someone for help before you post.

Not sure if you or the OP makes the more stupid threads.

I have a choice for my natural gas provider and I have chosen an alternate provider both at my home and business. Their rate is less of course. They provide natural gas at a lower rate and feed it into the distribution system.

Electricity would work the same way. Feed the grid with lower cost electricity.

Now, concerning someone who can't think...

 

[CPA]

National and State level governments tend to have lots of corruption, local government which is closer to the people tend to have much lower levels of corruption.

Really. Google Bell, California.

 

[nehalem256]

I have a choice for my natural gas provider and I have chosen an alternate provider both at my home and business. Their rate is less of course. They provide natural gas at a lower rate and feed it into the distribution system.

Electricity would work the same way. Feed the grid with lower cost electricity.

Now, concerning someone who can't think...

And who pays for the distribution system?

 

[Agent11]

Tax payers usually end up footing a large part of the bill.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I have a choice for my natural gas provider and I have chosen an alternate provider both at my home and business. Their rate is less of course. They provide natural gas at a lower rate and feed it into the distribution system.

Electricity would work the same way. Feed the grid with lower cost electricity.

Now, concerning someone who can't think...

/more facepalm

Did the original utility company that installed the infrastructure decide to allow competitors to use their infrastructure due to free market forces? Or did someone force them to?

 

[boomerang]

And who pays for the distribution system?

I have an itemization on every bill for distribution the same as I would with the "big box" provider.

 

[wirednuts]

Commonwealth Ed has a strangelhold on people. The government is not really looking out for the people with them either.

I'm not for state sponsored monopoly's.

comed has a stranglehold on everyone. even the local unions have no leverage against comed.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Wow. Do you honestly think that there is no place on earth that has figured out how to have competing utilities use the same lines?

Feeder costs into the distribution system is the issue.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Commonwealth Ed has a strangelhold on people. The government is not really looking out for the people with them either.

I'm not for state sponsored monopoly's.

Change your state government to be of the people, for the people, by the people.

 

[Smoblikat]

These regulatory commisions are in the pockets of the big business. PUC, FDA, EPA, USDA, ect all in the pockets of big companies, this is well known.

Here is in Cali the State PUC has to approve all fee increases, but they haven't seen a fee increase they didn't love. They are in the pockets of the industry they regulate.

And the government wont get lobbied/bribed either?

 

[Acanthus]

Please provide an example of a Utility company earning what you would consider to be "excess" profits.

AEP Ohio actually had to refund a large amount back to its customers last year because it made too much money.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/jan/11/regulators-aep-ohio-operator-should-refund-42m-ar-359030

 

[QuantumPion]

government companies might run a little less efficient, but there is less money wasted on profit.

That's it, we are doomed as a society. I'm voting for Obama, might as well get it over with quicker.

 

[nehalem256]

AEP Ohio actually had to refund a large amount back to its customers last year because it made too much money.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/jan/11/regulators-aep-ohio-operator-should-refund-42m-ar-359030

If it had to refund it then it did not actually make it huh?

Seems like that mis-estimated their costs vs. prices and the regulatory bodies took care of everything.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Here's a nice article from 2009 highlighting how SF politico's basically siphoned off 700 million for decades from the maintenance fund for of the Hetch Hetchy dam and the aqueduct system that provides water to the city. All of course done to keep pet projects funded and their political cronies employed. Of course notice how then the tax payers are hit for more money with bonds to fix the mess created by government.

http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-12-16/news/the-worst-run-big-city-in-the-u-s/2/