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Natural monopolies should always be run by the state.

Consumer choice, or public good/public utility: Choose one.

A deregulated market should provide choice, if it provides monopoly the gov should step in either by breaking up (forcing choice) or making public (forcing good).

there is no consumer choice in a natural monopoly. that's why it's called natural monopoly.

Well, wouldn't it have to become a public good / public utility then? Isn't that what we're all talking about ITT?

I don't think that contradicts what the person you were replying to said. Specifically, they said break it up or make it public. If there is no option to break it up, then making it public is the only option.

I think there's some examples of a split model that work well, i.e. the grid is publicly owned but the retail functions such as metering, billing, and service connections are private and have competitive providers.

> retail functions such as metering, billing, and service connections are private and have competitive providers

I.e., socialize the costs and privatize the profits.

What value can private companies bring to end consumers when they're buying from the same public producer at the same base cost? This is nothing more than a disguised handout.

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