Electricity Companies And The Regulator

EDM number 524 in 1999-00, proposed by Mohammad Sarwar on 14/03/2000.

That this House expresses concern at the reaction of the regional electricity companies to the Distribution Price Review of the Electricity Regulator, who called for price cuts of around ú15 a year in electricity charges; believes that the actions taken by the electricity companies in response to the price cut proposals are bad for the industry and bad for consumers; notes that many companies have made large-scale redundancies, indicating a short-term strategy detrimental to consumers' long-term interests; deplores the fact that thousands of redundancies have been announced over the last three months, in an industry which has already lost half its workforce since privatisation, decimating a highly skilled workforce committed to maintaining high standards of service and safety; regrets that investment in the system may be cut, compromising the health and safety of employees and the general public; anticipates that sustained power cuts will be more likely in those parts of the United Kingdom which are particularly vulnerable to storm damage; recognises that the companies have acknowledged that their actions will result in the deterioration of the UK electricity network and the possible compromise of consumers' services; urges the Government to make a public commitment to safeguarding safety, service standards and jobs in the industry; and calls upon the electricity companies to cut their profits not jobs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 18 MPs.