In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Energy companies rip off the public
As Caerphilly Observer readers will know I raised the issue of energy price hikes during First Minister’s question time in the Senedd last week.
Scottish Power is putting up gas prices by an unbelievable 19% from August 1 while electricity charges are rising by 10%. It will cost people an average of £173 more a year.
I used a gangster reference in my speech in relation to the power companies. What they are doing is nothing more than daylight robbery.
And you can bet that Scottish Power won’t be the last. All the other energy companies will be lining up to follow them before next winter and we’ll know doubt see their profits soar.
Wholesale gas prices have risen but when they are falling, as they have, the energy companies are very slow to pass on savings. They seem to want it both ways.
This whole episode shows the folly of privatising public utilities like gas and electricity. I’m pleased we have a not-for-profit company in Welsh Water and when the all-Wales rail franchise is up for renewal Plaid would like to see the same system used.
We cannot really on the big power companies to act fairly and have a social conscience – they are in it purely for the money as a private company.
I want to see First Minister Carwyn Jones getting all the power chiefs down to Wales and making it clear to them the feelings of the people of Wales. After all, that is what Labour said during the Assembly elections – they would be standing up for Wales. Well, let’s see them do it!
I also think the Coalition Government in Westminster has got to start supporting the public, like those in my region, by being tough with the energy companies. Households are already facing higher food and fuel bills and now energy bills.
My real fear is that people on low incomes, particularly the elderly, will be reluctant to switch on their gas and electricity this winter and the result will be that more people will die of hypothermia. If that sadly happens we know who will be to blame – the power companies.
Regional office
I’m currently searching the Valleys for a suitable location for my regional office. My colleague Jocelyn Davies has a base in Newbridge so I’m looking outside Caerphilly County Borough for one. I hope to have it sorted shortly.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru
South Wales East regional Assembly Member
Lindsay says, that the increases in power company charges on low income families in the region could result in more deaths from hypothermia, of course, he is right.
However, he and his Plaid Cymru colleagues on Caerphilly Borough Council, ( Lindsay is still a member of the Authority retaining his councillors seat) have squared that circle and Have increased the bereavement charges the council makes on these very same grieving families should someone close die of hypothermia next winter. and by a whopping 18.5%. and for nothing more than simply to `drive up cemetery standards`
It is time for Caerphilly`s Plaid Cymru to have a serious twinge of concience, particularly in light of Lindsay proud boast that he branded the power providers bosses as " gangsters in suits" quite right, and reverse this appalling additional imposition of increased bereavement charges upon the grief stricken, but does this Council decision make him one the new breed of "Grim Reapers" running Caerphilly Council?
hmm! it good to se whittle spending some time in the assemblyas he is paid to do rather than boycotting it in a hissy fit.
Ithinkthat we canot take the Nationalidt seriously on protecting thr less well of when they impose a stealth "death tax"
Obviously the Nationalist wisj our senior citizens to make a choice between fuel bills and paying funeral costs.
Gareth Williams
Renationalisation?
Well I have to say as one of the only authorities not to put up their council tax I think the Plaid group are doing a fantastic job…plus they have made savings because of Labour's mismanagement…and are we forgetting when Labour were in they spent tens of millions of pounds on new council offices?
Gareth: Surely it is a right to boycott the Royals if you are a Republican…we can't force views on to others. They did not force others to follow them. I am a Republican myself and I would prefer the AMs to swear an oath to the Assembly and people of Wales then to some outdated institution; most sovereign countries do not have a monarchy…why should we? Before you mention tourism…France still has tourists to their palaces even though they don't have a Royal family any more…same in Germany, Russia, etc.
Dave: Nationalization is the way forward…take a look at Welsh Water, any profits are put straight back into the company to make improvements and to fix repairs. Nationalization of the trains would mean price hikes would fund more carriages, better rail infrastructure.