I am not sure of the answer but it ain’t right! Why should bills go up and dividends and bonus’ paid out when the companies are so publically failing. I would say nationalise them. Is it not a basic rule of capitalism that investing in a company is a risk? These companies have shafted customers for £billions. They are obviously failing so let them fail. If teacher pension funds have invested unwisely they too will have to take a hit. (Just like councils had to with the Icelandic Banking Crisis – when guilty parties were imprisoned!). And if that means me – I accept it! Capitalism at the edge is a cruel beast. PS.Any teacher who loses part of their pension will hardly be poverty stricken!
So let them go bust – take over the roles and employ the workers with no loss of wages. Water rates may still need to up to fill the gap in provision left by the greedy bastards! Will this affect companies investing in the UK – why should it? If successful the investment will make money, if not we (the public) will not subsidise the investments any more. The any more is important! Ever since privatisation the water companies have had a monopoly on supply and a guaranteed income – no risk capitalism does not work!