Categories: uncategorized
Date: 10 November 2006 13:29:35
20 years ago our then government started the whole privatisation ball rolling. Things we already owned were sold back to us. Monopolistic state organisations were then forced to compete with new companies in their markets.
This is supoosed to introduce competition, which it does well, and give consumers choice. We now have websites that help you select the best energy, digital television or communications provider in your area. This is great, especially as energy prices are going ever upwards.
Competition means that suppliers should provide good customer service and competitive prices. You can then see which are the best and most cost effective providers.
It aso raises some oddity. Electricity and gas prices still vary from region to region. Does it really cost more to move gas through pipes to Wales, Scotland or S. West England? Or electricity over wires? So why is energy more expensive in Wales?
We moved 6 weeks ago and notified the energy supplier at our new home. We supplied all the meter readings and I also arranged for our electricity to be transfered to a greener supplier, then we'd be carbon neutral on electricity.
We keep receiving letters from our gas supplier asking for our details as they do not have them. So I ring them.
Call 1: "Sorry can't help you as our system is updating."
Call 2: "We have no record of you on our system."
Call 3: "It takes at least 28 days for our system to update. We do have your details and have closed off your previous account."
These calls were made within 30 minutes. Any wonder that the company concerned have lost 2 million customers in the last year? They've also appeared in the press, on consumer TV programmes and been publicly chastised by the energy regulator.
I've now found that I can save around £60 a year by moving to another gas supplier. I wonder what I'll do?