Water Meters ?

[PeterBirder]

Re: Water Meters ?

Drainage only - it would be nice if it was incoming pipes as well - I have to rely on the house or bank account insurance to cover that.

[Zuiko]

Re: Water Meters ?

To me, the Water Industry is just another example of Privatization not working and being totally inappropriate for public services and utilities.

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: Water Meters ?

To me, the Water Industry is just another example of Privatization not working and being totally inappropriate for public services and utilities.

Maybe. But like gas, electricity and the railway industries the water industry was privatised to bring in private money, which the government / local councils would not or could not find.

I seem to remember that water rates were next to nothing when the old water boards were privatised. Likewise gas and electricity was arguably supplied at uneconomic prices; hence the huge [reported] drain of these industries on the public purse. Remember also that gas an electricity relied heavily on home produced coal, which was again heavily subsidised.

In the defence of the water companies, they have spent (or rather been forced to spend) billions improving the drainage system and some flood defences, so we no longer pump raw sewage into the sea.

This all costs, so I guess we have to decide whether we get ripped off by utility companies, or pay even more tax?

I have no particular fondness for any utility company (nPower in particular ), but even after they have taken their profits they are probably still more efficient operators than comparable government departments.

However, what I do resent is that utility companies seem to have inherited immense legal powers from their state run ancestors that mean they can do pretty much what they want, and (in the case of nPower ) behave as incompetently as they like without any legal redress, in ways that no other private business could get away with.

[DerekW]

Re: Water Meters ?

Re effectiveness of privatization versus the lack of planning of adequate resources by dogma dominated politicians.

There has been gross mismanagement of power supply planning at the highest levels of government for 15 years, perhaps because it was not sexy in the early noughties when it should have been done. If there was good planning we would be seeing the first of several nuclear power stations coming on line in the next few years. Instead we will be exposed to power cuts which if they are not planned could cause a collapse of the network.

[Zuiko]

Re: Water Meters ?

Re effectiveness of privatization versus the lack of planning of adequate resources by dogma dominated politicians.

There has been gross mismanagement of power supply planning at the highest levels of government for 15 years, perhaps because it was not sexy in the early noughties when it should have been done. If there was good planning we would be seeing the first of several nuclear power stations coming on line in the next few years. Instead we will be exposed to power cuts which if they are not planned could cause a collapse of the network.

Very true, Derek. The whole point of a mixed economy is that it is meant to combine the advantages of free-market and planned economies. In this country we seem to be adept at combining the disadvantages and ignoring the advantages.

[Zuiko]

Re: Water Meters ?

Maybe. But like gas, electricity and the railway industries the water industry was privatised to bring in private money......

That's the problem, the assets raised were used to finance current spending and tax cuts rather than earmarked for investment in infrastructure and encouraging new businesses. Likewise with the right-to-buy council houses, in principal it was a good idea but once again the proceeds from the sale of capital assets were used for current spending or tax allieviation when they should have been ring fenced to build more social housing. Had that happened we may not have the same severity of housing crisis that we have today.

[Roberta]

Re: Water Meters ?

we don't have the option no town water or gas..................tanks 3x 22500L tanks and bottle gas for the cook top, what we collect we use. You do get used to it................dish washers, ours is a 13 L per load, dual flush loo's front load water adjusting washing machine.
The problem is when the power goes off ....no pump, so up ladder with scoop, or use the tank on the shed that has a gravity feed to the pony water.
Roberta

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Water Meters ?

That's the problem, the assets raised were used to finance current spending and tax cuts rather than earmarked for investment in infrastructure and encouraging new businesses. Likewise with the right-to-buy council houses, in principal it was a good idea but once again the proceeds from the sale of capital assets were used for current spending or tax allieviation when they should have been ring fenced to build more social housing. Had that happened we may not have the same severity of housing crisis that we have today.

YEAH! Great Britains massive EQUITY RELEASE SCHEME went very badly wrong hence we are just Britain now ...

[Zuiko]

Re: Water Meters ?

we don't have the option no town water or gas..................tanks 3x 22500L tanks and bottle gas for the cook top, what we collect we use. You do get used to it................dish washers, ours is a 13 L per load, dual flush loo's front load water adjusting washing machine.
The problem is when the power goes off ....no pump, so up ladder with scoop, or use the tank on the shed that has a gravity feed to the pony water.
Roberta

They may be different problems, but wherever you are in the world you can guarantee there are problems!

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: Water Meters ?

There has been gross mismanagement of power supply planning at the highest levels of government for 15 years, perhaps because it was not sexy in the early noughties when it should have been done. If there was good planning we would be seeing the first of several nuclear power stations coming on line in the next few years. Instead we will be exposed to power cuts which if they are not planned could cause a collapse of the network.

I quite agree. I suspect the problem is that very few people will vote for new power stations, whereas hospitals and schools are always good for votes.

As an example, the government built a brand new hospital in Bishop Auckland in the late 1990's, despite the fact that there are several other large teaching hospitals within ten miles or so. (Darlington Memorial Hospital, Dryburn at Durham, North tees at Stockton, James Cook at Middlesbrough and so on).

The new hospital was never fully utilised, and is now used for geriatric care. I know several people who work, or have worked there, and all said there is no secret that it was only ever built to win an election!

Unfortunately, schools and hospitals don't keep the lights on, although I believe there are some (Derriford in Plymouth?) that generate their own electricity and export excess power to the grid.