As the capitalist pig in the group (
) I very much believe that utilities should be publically traded companies, outside the hands of government. Government should have nothing to do with utility distribution. I firmly believe that businesses run more effectively, have people better trained to manage funds / resources / inventory / customers / etc., and ultimately could put every penny to the best possibly use. I support Fortis owning Newfoundland Power.
What I have a problem with is a publically traded company having a monopoly on an industry. Go nuts Fortis, provide us with power... but when you increase your rate above something I'm willing to pay, I want to have the option to go and get my power from the cheaper guy. I want options. Options, and competitions force companies to be constantly innovating and constantly striving to provide the cheapest, best bang-for-your-buck product. Currently, in Newfoundland this is not happening.
The utility being provided by a private company isn't the problem here. The problem is that one of the other foundations of capitalism is being ignored: competition.