Bunhill: Getting connected
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MUCH has been written about the salaries and perks doled out to the men who run the utility companies.
They do not receive a particularly favourable press, but much of the problem is of their own making.
Before going any further, Bunhill must declare an interest. Living for part of the week at a rural West Country location has its advantages, but one of them is not the luxury of electricity. Bunhill often works by gaslight but is not given to complain.
Some months ago, I inquired about the possibility of mains electricity (there are more than 2,500 houses without it in the UK). Southern Electric was most obliging, sent an engineer and produced a quote. And what a quote it was. No less than pounds 15,000 is required to run a cable less than 300 yards. This may go part of the way to explaining the pounds 220m profits that the company recently turned in.
On the other hand, British Telecom has a better sense of fair play. It installed a telephone, having erected 15 poles and hung three-quarters of a mile of cable for pounds 99.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments