The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The recent high profits reported by the energy companies is an affront and abuse of the Free Market Economy.
Enterprises should be free to make a fair and reasonable profit, not abuse their market strengths by making excessive profits.
The excessive high profits coincide with consumers being charged higher prices for their energy use.
To mitigate against the higher prices being charged, the government has offered subsidies – price cap and help by way of payments of £67 to householders using electricity.
It is normal and acceptable for governments to subside and support infant industries.
The energy companies are not infant industries and should therefore not be subsidised by the government.
To summarise, the government is not only condoning but contributing to the excessive profits being made by the energy companies.
The abuse by the energy companies should not only be punished by a Windfall tax, but possibly price controls.
Price control is anathema to a Free Market supporting government, so should be excessive profits.
What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander.
Phillip James
Fleet Hargate
