Germany: Trend toward re-municipalisation of energy sector

http://www.epsu.org/a/8107 After just over 10 years of liberalisation and privatisation, the German energy sector is experiencing a return to public and communal ownership. New local public utilities are being set up and many private concession contracts for energy distribution networks and service delivery have returned to public hands. Entire regional networks have been sold by the large energy corporations to the public regional authorities. There are a number of reasons for this trend and while there is support from within the trade union movement there is also some caution being expressed. The united service union ver.di is looking at developments on a case-by-case basis in the light of some of the negative experiences it has had with public sector employers. Advice EPSU www.epsu.org