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Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (1406)	12/14/2000 1:52:32 PM
From: CVJ	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

The deregulation of CA utilities is as big a mistake as was busting up AT&T. Power plants have been taken off-line, utility bills are going to double, triple... this winter and into the future. It MAY eventually work out, but when? Now AT&T is buying cable TV systems (mine included). My cable bill has gone up approx. 12% in one year. The "improved" service consists of offering 18 digital channels (only 3 of which are interesting to me) at a 50% increase in my monthly bill. I did not take their offer. Competition is supposed to provide better services at lower costs - so the theory goes. Why doesn't anyone's calculations include the increased overhead of providing multiple copies of marketing and administrative and operating systems, and the added regulatory costs of keeping tabs on everyone? In CA it seems any Joe Blow can be a long-distance telephone provider or electric/gas provider. Another bone of contention: Cellular phone service is the new version of a 1950's & 60's used car lot. I've been to the two largest vendors in my small town. Sales people dive at you like a hawk at a mouse. Any question one asks is answered by a thrust of a brochure and "sign here". Overall, despite the technical change pace, IMHO deregulation sucks when applied to basic needs - electricity & gas, and telephone service. Ranting complete Chas