What a sad day it is when a co-operative sells out and takes the 40 pieces of silver from big business to the detriment of their customers as Coop Homes has done in their “arrangement” with Southern Electric.
Coop Homes manages and provides management services in the area of Social Housing. People living in Social Housing are typically amongst the lowest paid members of society and many receive Benefits.
Southern Electric, in common with the other major energy suppliers, discriminates against the less well off. If you are unwilling or unable to pay by direct debit you will pay more. If you are unfortunate enough to use a prepay key meter you will pay a lot more for the privelege. If you are a low energy consumer you will find the old standing charge loaded onto the first energy units you use.
So, Southern Electric are happy to have customers delivered to them on a plate, Coop Homes are happy to take their 40 pieces of silver, and the rest of us pay for it all.
What exactly is the moral and ethical justification for this?
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