THERE is no real surprise in the report today claiming that North West Water's customers are paying £93 each to shareholders.

Nor that this amount is equal to 42 per cent of the average £222 bill.

For, ever since privatisation, water users in the North West have known they are victims of a rip-off.

It is all down to the company's monopoly.

People are paying too much for water because they have no choice.

They cannot go elsewhere for their supplies.

But if that situation cannot be mended by competition - without a national water grid, it is physically impossible for the water companies to compete - why isn't something else done?

Water is supposed to be a regulated industry.

But when it comes to controlling its charges, it seems it is supervised by a watchdog with rubber dentures.

If, with its windfall tax, the government can agree that the privatised utilities' profits are excessive, why does it not act on charges - when raiding those profits for the exchequer is ultimately making water users pay the tax, not the companies or their shareholders?

Let's have a watchdog who will stop the soaking at a stroke.

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