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Ofgem: lights on, nobody home
YOU do not need a PhD to know that the energy market is not working in the interests of consumers. In fact, a PhD may even hinder this analysis, at least if the liberal sprinkling of doctorates among the directors at Ofgem, the energy regulator, is anything to go by. Despite nPower announcing a massive and unjustified increase in the cost of its domestic gas and electricity last week, the regulator continues to insist that the UK energy market is competitive and working well.
Sadly, the facts point in the opposite direction. The average cost of wholesale gas may have increased considerably over the past few months, but it remains about 20 per cent lower than its peak in 2006. Despite this, nPower’s gas prices are now at their highest level yet and the other suppliers, who always appear to act in unison, are expected to raise their prices to similar levels. More>>
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Northwest merger rumors are flying
Then the Wall Street Journal Web site reported that Delta would push the merger envelope with its board. Industry analysts were not especially surprised by the developments. Ray Neidl of Calyon Securities says it has been clear that Delta was interested in a combination and that Eagan-based Northwest and United were top picks. Neidl says airlines have been enduring some hard times that would make a consolidation more likely. "Airlines are under a lot of pressure. Hundred dollar a barrel oil with threat of going into a recession is making investors bid down the stock, and long-term investors are very upset about that. They see as their way out -- mergers -- where you would have less fragmented industry and the airlines would have greater control over the pricing." If a merger were to take place any time soon, many believe that it would have a better chance of getting approval from antitrust regulators under the Bush administration, so there is incentive to get a deal done soon. More>>
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B.C. girl was restrained, put in padded cell
He said the police knew within two months of the incident that Kinloch and her family were considering launching a lawsuit, but did little until the issue was made public. �Certainly, nothing prevented them doing an internal investigation before then,� said Neary.
The civil case is set to begin June 16, he said.
Police say the girl was combative and tried to break out of the cell.
Naughton said Kinloch was picked up after the ambulance service responded to a 911 call in downtown Victoria.
The caller told the dispatcher the girl had been drinking and taking ecstasy.
The ambulance arrived, found Kinloch and called for police help.
�The central issue here is the nature and duration of the restraint that was used to control the young woman and the reasons for that restraint,� Naughton said in a statement. More>>