Union Seeks To Nationalize U.K. Retail Energy Suppliers; Plan "Welcomed" By Labour Party
June 19,2019
Trade union Unison has called for the retail energy supplier arms of the U.K.'s 'big six' energy companies to be nationalized [British Gas (Centrica), SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower (Innogy) and Scottish Power (Iberdrola)]
City A.M. reports that, "Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party, which has pledged widespread nationalisation of the energy industry, welcomed the proposal from the Unison, one of Britain’s largest trade unions, to bring the Big Six suppliers into government ownership."
Unison said that competition among suppliers, "is creating complexity for customers and a lack of clarity over tariffs, prices and value for money – and putting important jobs at risk."
Unison said, "Nationalisation would create a 'green army' working to decarbonise UK homes and businesses. Customer services and sales staff would have their time freed up to focus on helping consumers become more energy efficient which reduces consumption, bills and emissions. Renewable forms of energy like solar panels or converting homes to greener hydrogen boilers would become the norm among consumers."