> Or to put it another way, the rich were subsidised by the poor.
I agree with most of what you've said but I don't agree that this conclusion follows. If anything when I was less well off I was far more inclined to put up with the hassle of changing providers every few months to minimise the costs than I am now.
I do think there were some efficiencies generated, it's just hard to figure out if a nationalised entity would have gotten there eventually. The online only account management for example probably saves a bunch over call centre staff and sending people around to read the meter.
I agree with most of what you've said but I don't agree that this conclusion follows. If anything when I was less well off I was far more inclined to put up with the hassle of changing providers every few months to minimise the costs than I am now.
I do think there were some efficiencies generated, it's just hard to figure out if a nationalised entity would have gotten there eventually. The online only account management for example probably saves a bunch over call centre staff and sending people around to read the meter.