It is fuelish not to renationalise
SEVERAL years ago we had solar panels fitted under a Government scheme at no cost to ourselves. I said at the time that it wouldn’t affect electricity bills one iota as the energy companies would simply adjust the unit price accordingly.
The only losers are the unfortunate people who cannot have these panels, as they are made to pay for the loss of other people’s custom.
There is only one answer to this and that is the nationalisation of all essential industries. Tory MPs are saying it is “un-Conservative” to put a cap on electricity and gas prices, but what they really mean is that it will adversely affect their own and their friends’ share portfolios.
Ken McGrath, Rotherham, South Yorks
# Recently I read about foreignowned bus firms charging extortionate fares to make up for the profit they can’t make in their own countries. This is what’s happening in the energy market. They can do anything they want as it’s an open market created by Margaret Thatcher when she sold off our energy firms in the 80s. Until we renationalise, we’ll have to suffer in silence as there’s nothing we can do about it.
Brian Scully, Wigan
# So, the Government is aggrieved that British Gas claims its policies are partly responsible for them having to raise electricity prices. Maybe they should do what governments are supposed to do – look after their vulnerable citizens.
The French Government can over-ride any significant price increases by suppliers. But ours can’t – they gave up that option when they sold off the nation’s silverware!
Neal Gordon, West London
# What a gift British Gas boss Iain Conn has handed Labour by putting up the price of electricity by 12.5%, while overall costs have dropped by 9%.
The Tory manifesto pledge to introduce an energy price cap is unsurprisingly not worth the paper it’s written on and more people will realise that nationalisation is the only way to stop these companies ripping us off year after year. Andrew Miller, Doncaster, South Yorks # At the end of the winter in March 2017, I was in debt to my energy company to the tune of £4.72, but by June I was in credit by £51. My bill states my yearly billing period was from 31 March, 2017 to 29 April, 2018.
I queried the 13-month year but didn’t understand the reply. It turns out that I will have paid £100 more than my projected my usage.
We are told credit will be offset against heavier winter bills, but I’m nearly 80 and it annoys me that I pay six months in advance for energy not yet used. The firms must earn considerable interest on all the credit they are sitting on.
Name and address withheld
# Wholesale electricity prices are down but British Gas still finds excuses to increase prices. This greed won’t stop until the industry is renationalised – something the Tories won’t do. And the regulator, Ofgem, they are as effective as a chocolate teapot!
K D Thornhill, South East London
# I find it ironic that the man who announced British Gas price rises has the surname Conn.
James Whittingham, Felixstowe, Suffolk