Utilities in private hands – but whose?

Many people and the media are rightly criticising the performance of our water and energy supply companies.

Although it has been hinted, I haven’t seen much about their ownership. Bearing in mind all these facilities are now in private ownership, and the principle object of a private company is to make profit for the benefit of its shareholders, I thought those of your readers who don’t know already might like to note some of the substantial shareholders in these businesses:

Water: Wessex Water – Malaysian; Northumbrian Water – Hong Kong; Severn-trent – Us/australian; United Utilities (Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria) – Us/australia; South-west Water – Us/australia; Yorkshire Water – Germany/us; Southern Water – US; Thames Water – Uae/kuwait/china; Anglian – Australia

Energy: British Gas – British; EDF – French; E.ON – German; Npower – German; Scottish Power – Spanish.

Just saying!

Nick Francis

Bath